The immediate fallout of the judgment against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was street-fighting between AIADMK and DMK cadre.
One group clashed at Gopalapuram where DMK leader M. Karunanidihi lives, while another altercation took place at DMK’s headquarters, Anna Arivayalam, on Anna Salai.
Scores of DMK men were present in front of Mr. Karunanidhi’s residence and the streets of Gopalapuram, since Saturday morning, in anticipation of the judgment at the special court in Bangalore.
When the news of the judgment broke, they celebrated by raising slogans and distributing sweets.
By 3 p.m., a group of AIADMK men, disregarding the advice of the police posted at the entrance of the street leading to Mr. Karunanidhi’s residence, barged on to the road.
A clash broke out on the streets as DMK men faced them with casuarina sticks, iron pipes and bars kept at a construction site, while the police remained helpless. A DMK man and a woman member of the AIADMK were injured in the stone-throwing incident that followed.
Even though the fight came to an end, AIADMK party people continued to remain at the entrance of the street, arguing vociferously with the police. On the other hand, DMK men accused the police of deliberately allowing AIADMK cadre inside the streets of Gopalapuram.
Another group of AIADMK personnel entered the premises of Anna Arivayalam and started throwing stones.
Only a handful of policemen were posted outside the office, but they joined forces with the DMK men inside to chase this group of aggressors away. Traffic on the arterial Anna Salai came to a halt and more police were posted for protection.
As news of the clash spread, more DMK men thronged Gopalapuram and began to guard the streets, armed with sticks and iron bars.
All the streets leading to Mr Karunanidhi’s house in Gopalapuram were cordoned off and a large posse of police was deployed.