The situation in Thodupuzha, which witnessed violent clashes and incidents of stone- throwing by a section of people, remained peaceful on Saturday. Senior police official under Superintendent of Police P.K.Kuttapayi camped in the town and gave direction to contain if any violence took place in the aftermath of the Friday incidents.
The Section 144, clamped by District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh on Friday morning, remained in force in the Thodupuzha town.
Thodupuzha police said that no untoward incident was reported and the police was continuing utmost vigil in the town. The police picketing was enforced and vehicles passing through the town limits were fully checked. The vigil would continue during night and more police forces had been put on duty for conducting checking and patrolling, they said.
There was allegation that the violent incidents were the handiworks of anti-social elements that reached the town from outside the district. There was also allegation that a well planned strategy had been worked before the violent incidents resulted from a protest march organised by a section of people against some inflammatory remarks appeared in the question papers of the internal exam for second year B. Com at a famous college in the town.
The marchers had entered the campus and pelted stones at the building. The police later chased away the protestors who continued a march in the town.
Meanwhile, the Controller of exams, Mahatma Gandhi University, on Friday, gave orders for conducting the B. Com exam in the college on another day which will be announced soon. Hundreds of people participated in the `santhi yathra' held on Friday night and it was decided at the all-religious meet to promote peace and harmony in the area.