The cremation of the murdered Hindu Munnani functionary, S. Suresh Kumar, was held at Kakkodu, his native place in Kanyakumari district, on Friday without any untoward incident.
As violence broke out in Chennai and suburbs a day after he was hacked to death by a gang on Wednesday night, the police made elaborate security arrangements across the district.
There was a plan to take the body out in a procession through Thottiyodu to Kakkodu, but it was decided to reach the village through Villukury, Thuckalay and Monday Market to avoid communally sensitive areas.
As the vehicle carrying the body entered Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district at 4.15 a.m., armed police personnel escorted the convoy beyond Kaavalkinaru.
On reaching APTA Market near Nagercoil, the vehicle was stopped for an hour to enable functionaries of the BJP, the Hindu Munnani and other Hindu outfits to join the procession. When Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan appealed to the cadre to resume the procession, they said they would do so only after senior leaders of Hindu outfits reached APTA Market.
The procession left for Kakkodu around 8 a.m., with a huge crowd following in more than 50 four-wheelers and 150 two-wheelers on the busy Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram Highway.
When two Muslim youths were attacked by a few persons in the procession at Kaaravilai around 10.30 a.m., the police rescued them. However, those in the procession threw stones at a police jeep, injuring three personnel. A few buses were also damaged.
The police used mild force to chase away the troublemakers.
Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Pon. Radhakrishnan and senior BJP leader M.R. Gandhi paid their last respects to Suresh Kumar at Kakkodu.
