Except for attack on two buses near Arapalayam in Madurai, southern districts largely remained peaceful on Tuesday though a majority of the shops were shut and very few buses were plying on the roads.
As the news of the demise of former Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi trickled in, office-goers and shoppers rushed back to their homes. Bus services in many districts were gradually withdrawn. “Only those buses that were returning to depots were on the roads,” a police officer said.
Most shopkeepers started downing shutters as a precautionary measure. In Madurai city, DMK cadre erected banners with huge portraits of the departed leader and lit candles. Panicked people started thronging ATMs and petrol bunks were crowded with vehicles fearing closure of fuel stations on Wednesday.
Commissioner of Police S. Davidson Devasirvatham said over 2,500 police personnel were deployed in the city. Vigil would be intensified to keep a tab on antisocial elements.
South Zone IGP K.P. Shanmuga Rajeshwaran said all SPs and DSPs were on duty and patrolling had been intensified.
“Full strength of the police had been mobilised. Police patrolling would continue throughout the night. The deployment would continue till further orders,” he added.
