In retaliation to Tuesday’s encounter killing of 20 persons from Tamil Nadu by Andhra Pradesh police, two men on Thursday noon vandalised a supermarket in Mylapore of Heritage Foods Limited, founded and owned by Andra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The two were arrested and booked on charges including damage of property.
Around 12.05 p.m., Kumaravel from Chennai and Kannan from Kancheepuram, members of Thamizhar Ezhuchi Iyakkam, walked into the supermarket on Royapettah High Road with clubs and stones much to shock of over staff members and a few customers.
“They threw stones on to the shop’s name board and started throwing fruit and vegetable trays placed outside the outlet. They then stormed inside and smashed the computer attached to the cash register,” recalled a visibly shocked salesgirl. However, she failed to reveal her identity.
Her co-worker who was managing the cosmetic section at the outlet added that the duo raised slogans against Mr. Naidu and demanded his arrested. “They pushed all the racks with the goods and refrigerators and damaged the glasses panes. Luckily, the men didn’t harm any of us,” she added.
The attackers then asked the curious onlookers, mainly children, to come in and take the goods from the store.
According to staff, chocolates, juice packs, deodorant bottles and cosmetic items were taken away by locals. The entire incident was caught on CCTV camera and the police are examining the footage.
The staff alerted the police control room amidst the chaos and a patrol team reached shortly and apprehended Kumaravel and Kannan. They were produced before a magistrate, remanded to judicial custody and sent to Puzhal prison.
Other Heritage Fresh outlets in the city downed shutters as a preventive measure and police security has been provided to the shops and other AP-based establishments.
More protests in city
A total of 17 protests condemning the Andhra Pradesh government including a rail roko at Chennai Central took place in different parts of the city. Organised by a few political parties and Tamil groups, more than 300 protesters were arrested by police in different locations here. They were released in the evening.
More than 300 protesters arrested from different locations in the city
