The police arrested 42 persons from Uthapuram village on charges of causing disturbance to maintenance of law and order among other charges here on Friday.
Madurai Rural Police said that some Dalit youths had put up huge advertisement hoardings ahead of the guru puja of Immanuel Sekaran in the village on Thursday, to which some others in the hamlet objected. When they demanded the hoardings be removed, a wordy altercation resulted in tense moments.
Sensing trouble, a posse of police personnel rushed to the spot and ensured that peace prevailed. Meanwhile, some persons who had caused trouble were rounded up. After investigations, they were produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody.
A senior police officer said there was no problem and as a precautionary measure police pickets have been deployed in vulnerable points. Elaborate arrangements were being made for the volunteers proceeding to Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district, where the guru puja is scheduled for September 11.
