Dindigul: Stray incidents of violence were reported on Wednesday in southern districts of Tamil Nadu as protests broke out over murder of a Dalit leader, triggering tension.
As news spread about the last night murder of Devendrakula Velalar Federation founder Pasupathi Pandian by unidentified persons in front his house in neighbouring Dindigul district, protests rocked several places with miscreants pelting stones on buses, police said.
Shops in several parts of his native Tuticorin district and Dindigul remained closed while bus services were withdrawn in several rural places and Dindigul, where a holiday was declared for educational institutions on Wednesday.
Apprehending trouble, police acted swiftly and deployed armed police in all sensitive areas and arrested ten persons in connection with the violence. Striking police personnel had been deployed in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts.
Police said situation in several parts was returning to normalcy though it continued to be tense in some areas. Surprise vehicle checks had been ordered and armed Police posted in all the sensitive areas to monitor the situation.
Some unidentified persons threw a petrol bomb into one of the coaches of Madurai-Rameswaram Passenger train early this morning at Paramakudi, but the fire caused by it was put out immediately. There was no injury to passengers, police said.
Police said 29 buses were damaged in the stray incidents of violence protesting the murder of Pandian, against whom several criminal cases, including murder, were pending.
Armed police protection given to Pandian had been withdrawn six months ago following which he was having his own personal bodyguards, who have now been detained for questioning.
Police said three special teams had been formed to nab those behind the murder of the Dalit leader, whose body was taken to Tuticorin for funeral amid tight security.
A report from Ramanathapuram said unidentified persons raising slogans condemning Pandian's murder hurled a petrol bomb at Rameswaram-Chennai Express train near Ariyakudi Puthur. However, there was no report of any injury or damage.
Police said the passengers raised an alarm and put out the fire caused due to the bombing immediately using water.
The train was detained at nearby Paramakudi station for 10 minutes following the incident.
Southern Railway in a release said all preventive measures had been taken for safe running of trains.
Patrolling of tracks in Manamadurai-Rameswaram section had been intensified round-the-clock and security beefed up on trains and railway stations in liaison with Government Railway Police and local police, it said.
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