The demonstration organised by a section of vegetable and fruit traders in Erode town on Thursday to condemn the Kerala government on the Mullaperiyar dam issue has turned violent with the protesters pelting stones at the shops run by Keralites and damaging the window panes and hoardings.
The protest was called by the Nethaji Market Vegetable and Fruit Traders Association. When the demonstration was in progress, a small group of protesters started pelting stones at the bakeries and a textile showroom run by the Keralites in the busy bazaar area. The window panes of a few shops got damaged in the stone pelting. The shop keepers downed the shutters immediately.
Protesters also pelted stones at a few jewellery shops which remained closed when the demonstration took place. They destroyed the potted plants kept in front of a jewellery showroom and also damaged a few hoardings.
Police personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. They arrested 19 agitators.
Meanwhile, traders staged a road blockade protesting against the arrest of the 19 persons. Senior police officials pacified the agitators. Many bakeries and other business establishments run by the Keralites in Erode town remained closed for the day following the attack on the shops in the bazaar area.
