Bandh-like situation in Ariyalur

At least 12 State transport corporation buses were damaged in different parts of Ariyalur district when miscreants pelted the vehicles with stones on Friday night and during the early hours of Saturday morning, following the death of Vanniyar Sangam president and former PMK legislator ‘Kaduvetti’ J. Guru.

Bus services were suspended in the district on Saturday, and shopkeepers downed shutters as a bandh-like situation prevailed.

A Chennai-bound bus from Jayankondam was the first to face the fury of a group of miscreants on Friday night. Objecting to the operation of buses, the miscreants hurled stones at the vehicle soon after it began its journey. The windscreen of the bus was smashed in the incident. Similarly, buses came under attack at Suriyamanal near the Jayankondam union office, Kariyankaval, Kalathur, Guruvalapparkovil, Ponneri and a few other places.

Since tension prevailed in different parts of the district, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation suspended bus services on Saturday, putting commuters to hardship. The bus stands at Jayankondam and Ariyalur wore a deserted look.

As a mark of respect to Guru, traders and merchants in Ariyalur, Andimadam, Jayankondam, Meensuritti and a few other places downed their shutters. According to police sources, more than 4,000 shops remained closed in different parts of the district.

Superintendent of Police Abinav Kumar told

The Hindu that security had been tightened in the district.

Barring a few minor occurrences, no untoward incidents were reported, and the situation was normal, he said.

In Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, the windscreens of over 30 government buses were damaged. Private buses from Villupuram to Puducherry were suspended. But government buses continued to ply.