Tension prevailed at Netaji Nagar in Korukkupet for a few hours on Sunday noon after cadres of the Hindu Munnani attempted to carry Vinayaka idols along an unauthorised route where a mosque was located. Bigger trouble was averted following the intervention of police who themselves transported the idols across the street.
Around 11.45 a.m., the group tried to transport two Vinayaka idols, each over five feet tall, on vans through Third Street past the mosque en route the specified immersion spot near Kasimedu fishing harbour. The move was objected to by some members of Social Democratic Party who gathered on the street.
“Anticipating a clash, we intercepted the vehicles on the street and pacified the group. We sent back the Hindu Munnani activists and moved the idols through the street using policemen after arriving at an amicable accord with the Muslims group,” said N.K. Senthamarai Kannan, Joint Commissioner of Police, North.
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The Hindu Munnani activists were intervened and redirected through the pre-designated route from Korukkupet to Kasimedu. As the two idols vans passed through the street, some miscreants pelted stones at one of the vans. Barring that the police ensured a safe passage for the idols which were later handed over to the Munnani cadres for immersion rituals.
A group of women held a demonstration to arrest the miscreants. However, they were pacified by police with the promise of immediate action.