Shell shocked All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) cadre expressed their anger over the Bangalore Special Court’s conviction of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case by pelting stones on buses, blocking roads, forcing shops to down the shutters, damaging the flag masts of Opposition parties and burning effigies, in the districts of Salem and Namakkal on Saturday.
The police resorted to massive deployment in different parts of these districts, which prevented the AIADMK men from further indulging in rampage and damaging public properties.
As soon as the verdict was declared in the afternoon, the AIADMK cadre assembled in good strength and blocked Ammapettai main road.
They burnt DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in effigies.
Another group of AIADMK men blocked traffic near the old bus stand. On information, A. Amalraj, Commissioner of Police, rushed to the spot, and arrested them.
At the Four Road Junction, an office-bearer of the Maavatta Ilaiganar Ani Paasarai attempted self-immolation by dousing himself with kerosene. However, the police prevented the attempt and arrested him.
Another group of party supporters marched through Shevvapet, Chinnakadai veedhi , Periakadai veedhi , new bus stand, Meyyanoor main road, Junction road, forcing shopkeepers to down shutters.
Some anxious moments prevailed near the DMK party office in front of the new bus stand, when a group of DMK men gathered and sought protection.
They alleged that AIADMK men had planned to attack the party office and the statue of DMK leader Veerapandi Arumugam. The police rushed to the spot and assured them adequate protection, following which they dispersed.
All the major trading houses and private firms had declared a holiday for the evening in anticipation of violence.
The police had strengthened the security arrangements at Palar on the Tamil Nadu — Karnataka border near Mettur since last evening.
Mayilsamy (40) of Pallipatti village got on to a cellphone tower at Mecheri, and threatened to commit suicide.
Fire service and police personnel pacified him, following which he got down after two hours.
Closure of shops, burning of effigies, and suspension of bus services were reported in Mettur, Edappadi, Attur, Sangagiri in the district.
In Namakkal , all the shops and private firms remained closed, as AIADMK men took out protest rallies. Bus services remained paralysed.
The AIADMK men burnt Mr. Karunanidhi in effigy near the bus stand.
In Erode , the verdict triggered stone-pelting on buses at Kalingarayanpalayam, Soorampatti and a few other places, prompting the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to halt services.
Window panes and windshields of two TNSTC buses were broken at Kalingarayanpalayam. Buses entering the city from elsewhere in the State were directed to the nearest depots.
TNSTC buses were found parked in a lengthy queue in front of the depot along Chennimalai Road.
Over 90 per cent of shops and commercial establishments downed shutters.
The TNSTC operated few services with police escort to Coimbatore, Vellakovil and Salem. By 5 p.m. the entire Central Bus Stand looked deserted.
People were seen walking towards the railway station. The crowd was unusually high in the evening hours, Railway sources said.
AIADMK women, who had assembled near the MGR statue, wailed after learning about the verdict, even as the party men went about burning Mr. Karunanidhi in effigy. The cadre squatted on the road and the police took into custody 440 party men to restore traffic.
As the day progressed, the TNSTC bus service from Erode to Mysore was stopped at Kolinjur check post, the Tamil Nadu side of the border with Karnataka.
The Karnataka State Transport Corporation refrained from operating services to Erode.
Other vehicles bound for Tamil Nadu from Karnataka were stopped at Chamaraj Nagar district bordering Tamil Nadu, Superintendent of Police M.R. Sibi Chakravarthy said. In the evening, a group of transgenders went in a procession towards the Railway Station shouting slogans condemning the verdict.
