Nearly 250 shops in and around Kolathur and Retteri downed their shutters on Monday, protesting an attack on shops on Vivekananda Nagar Main Road, Kolathur.
Traders alleged a group damaged 10 shops on the main road, broke glass panels and looted cash on Sunday night. P. Devaraj, president, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai, Central Chennai district, said property worth a few lakhs were damaged during the attack and one of the traders had been injured.
“We downed the shutters for the day demanding police action against the miscreants,” he said.
Meanwhile, an officer attached to the Puzhal police station said they had arrested four persons — Pattakathi alias Yogeswaran (34), Aaron Raja (24), Saravanan (26) and Srinivsasan (40) — for the attack on the shops. During interrogation, the four allegedly confessed they belonged to the Puthiya Tamizhagam party and had damaged the shops as its owners had not paid money for a meeting.
“Their party leader was supposed to visit the locality for inauguration of a statue. They needed money for meeting the expenses for the event and were collecting money from shops in the locality. But some shopkeepers refused to pay. Angered over this, the four damaged the shops,” said a police officer.
