TIRUNELVELI
Manur police have arrested six persons and are on the lookout for 15 others for blocking Tirunelveli– Sankarankovil Highway on Sunday night and pelting stones on vehicles that piled up there following the agitation.
The police said Shakthi Anupama, Block Development Officer, Vasudevanallur, was returning to her office on Sunday evening after participating in MGR birth centenary celebrations held at Palayamkottai.
When her vehicle dashed against an oncoming autorickshaw even as her driver Mari Maharajan was overtaking another vehicle at Vengalapottal near Manur, an altercation broke out between Mr. Mari Maharajan and auto driver Senthilkumar of Kakkan Nagar in Palayamkottai.
The auto driver and a few persons allegedly assaulted Mr. Mari Maharajan and blocked vehicular traffic on the busy highway.
When Deputy Superintendent of Police (Thazhaiyoothu) Ponnarasu asked the protesters to give up the agitation, they insisted that Mr. Mari Maharajan should apologise to Senthilkumar at their village temple.
As the protest caused a traffic snarl, the police used mild force to disperse the mob which pelted stones on the vehicles that piled up on both sides. A few people were injured in the attack.
Based of complaints filed by Mr. Mari Maharajan and Manur Inspector of Police Jean Kumar, the police arrested auto driver Senthilkumar, Samuthiram (60) and Chellaiah (53) of Nanjankulam, Manthiramurthy (28) and Sankaranainar (18) of Vengalapottal and Marimuthu (21) of Pattavarthi . They are on the lookout for 15 others.
Mr. Mari Maharajan has been admitted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for treatment.
