Scenes of protests by the AIADMK workers brought the city to a halt after the verdict against their party leader Jayalalithaa was pronounced on Saturday.
Enraged functionaries took to the streets resorting to road blockades denouncing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its leader M. Karunanidhi besides setting afire his effigies.
Tension gripped the city moments after the verdict was announced as shops and business establishments downed shutters sensing attacks. Traffic was hit at different places after AIADMK members sat on the roads in the city venting their ire against the DMK. Town buses were off the city’s thoroughfares which were deserted putting regular commuters to hardship.
Street battleA tense situation prevailed around the Chathram Bus Stand as the supporters of AIADMK and DMK were locked in a bitter brawl. The workers of of the rival Dravidian parties hurled stones against each other triggering panic among shopkeepers and general public.
Even as a string of protests by the AIADMK was under way across the city following the verdict, a group of party men rushed towards the “Kalaignar Arivalayam” – the DMK’s district unit office and threw stones on the building.
Within a few moments, the AIADMK and DMK supporters were locked in a bitter brawl with both parties hurling stones against each other. Some DMK members also threw empty glass bottles from inside.
The gates of the “Kalaignar Arivalayam” were immediately closed.
The stone throwing incident set off tense moments with passersby proceeding towards the Chathram bus stand taking refuge in safe spots in order to avoid getting hit by the missiles.
The Karur Bypass became out of bounds for vehicular traffic for sometime as police personnel erected barricades.
Notwithstanding heavy police presence led by the Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav, angry AIADMK members sat on the road even as stone throwing between the enraged supporters of both the parties continued.
Armed with lathis, police personnel chased away the AIADMK members from the spot heightening tension in the vicinity of the busy bus stand.
