Amidst fear of escalating communal tension, the State government acted swiftly by deploying thousands of policemen and ensured that normal life returned to the city on Saturday .
The city had come to a standstill on Friday when communal violence, triggered by the murder of a Hindu Munnani leader, returned with arsonists targeting commercial establishments.
Sensing danger, the City Police posted pickets across the city with reinforcements coming in the form of over 2,000 policemen from Ariyalur, Permbalur, Tiruchi, Villupuram, Erode, Ramanathapuram and a few other districts.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) J.K. Tripathy remained stationed in the city monitoring the law and order situation. Senior officers who were posted to the district fanned to various pockets to oversee security arrangements.
Since morning, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses and private buses were operated. For private taxis and autorickshaws also it was business as usual.
Many commercial establishments remained open, but rumours led to closure of shops in a few areas. Jewellery, mobile phone and textile showrooms with glass frontage remained either closed or were partially open.
Rumours mongers warned
Traders who opened shops on Saturday morning said they were forced to remain closed a couple of hours later as rumours of violence and stone pelting were doing the rounds, mostly on social networking sites. Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A. Amalraj warned that the police would take strict action against anyone endangering peace by spreading false information.
Meanwhile, representatives of the various organisations and religious institutions met Mr. Amalraj asking for protection and early restoration of law and order. A section of lawyers too met him asking for stringent action against those who unleashed violence on Friday.
They sought stringent action against those who torched a police vehicle near the Thudiyalur police station. The lawyers’ team led by Venmani, Sundaramoorthy and Balakumar alleged that Hindu Munnani leaders were responsible for the violence unleashed and their statements had instilled fear in the hearts of minorities.
Tamil Nadu Traders’ Federation’s Coimbatore head Irudayaraj also met the Police Commissioner and sought compensation for those traders who had suffered loss. He said the violence had affected all sections of the society.
