The State-wide bandh called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not affect normal life in the central zone even as several party functionaries indulged in road roko at several places condemning the recent murder of their State general secretary V. Ramesh in Salem.
Shops and business establishments remained open though BJP members at some places asked shopkeepers to down shutters. Buses and trucks operated as usual in the central zone that encompasses eight districts. Police sources said over 700 BJP cadre were arrested across the zone after they resorted to road roko in various districts, including Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, and Perambalur. In Tiruchi district, cadre resorted to road roko at Lalgudi, Manachanallur, and Thottiyam. In the city, a group of BJP members took out a procession from the Periyar statue near the central bus stand to the junction round-about where they staged a demonstration. They condemned the series of killings of Hindu front leaders in Tamil Nadu and demanded the arrest of the culprits. The demonstrators were led by party State secretary M. Subramaniam. Around 190 others were taken into custody in the zone after they asked shopkeepers to down shutters.
