Chennai/Bengaluru: Despite stern directions from Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to AIADMK cadres to maintain calm and TN police’s efforts to prevent targeting people and properties of Karnataka origin by angry party workers after Karnataka High Court denied bail to former CM Jayalalithaa, at least three vehicles with Karnataka registration numbers were damaged in Palani and Chennai.
Stone pelting at a hotel, which is believed to be managed by people of Karnataka origin, was reported at MGR Nagar here on Tuesday.
Police also acted swiftly in removing posters threatening people of Karnataka origin put up by AIADMK men, if AIADMK chief was not given bail on Tuesday by the High Court in Bengaluru.
Unidentified mob ransacks the Datta Udipi hotel in MGR Nagar on Tuesday (Photo: DC)
Meanwhile, state DGP K. Ramanujam and his senior officials met the Chief Minister to discuss the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. The police headquarters has reportedly asked all district officers to ensure no posters or flexi boards criticizing Karnataka judiciary, HC or Kannada people are printed or displayed.
Printers are also under the scanner. Police teams are also monitoring social media posts.
At Sivagangai, AIADMK workers celebrated with crackers after getting the impression that their leader was granted bail, which triggered the fire mishap at a temple. A portion of the thatched roof, part of the scaffolding erected to renovate the rajagopuram of the centuries-old Kalayarkoil temple in Sivagangai district, was gutted by a spark from the cracker on Tuesday evening.
Posters threatening Kannadigas mushroomed in parts of Royapettah. They were soon removed following instructions from Chennai city police (Photo: DC)
“The fire did not damage the structure nor was anyone injured in the fire. The fire was put out by the sudden downpour,” said P. Dhanapal, commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department.
The sudden fire at the 9-tier gopuram measuring 157 feet in height triggered panic in Kalaiyarkoil.
The ancient temple is being renovated for the Kumbhabhishekam at a cost of Rs 60 lakh.
The temple is administered by the Sivagangai Samasthanam Devasthanam and the Rani of Sivagangai, the hereditary trustee of the temple.
Bangalore jail turns into fortress
The Parappana Agrahara Central Prison turned into a fortress with more than 1,500 policemen being deputed there to avoid any untoward incident as the High Court was hearing a bail petition of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.
The police had thrown three layers of security around the prison to prevent Ms Jayalalithaa’s supporters from entering the premises. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Alok Kumar, four DCPs, 12 ACPs, 30 inspectors, 60 sub-inspectors, 1,500 constables, 15 KSRP and 15 CAR platoons, and 200 home guards were on duty.
The police had also arranged 10 BMTC buses as a precautionary measure to take Jaya supporters into preventive custody if the situation demanded it. Even in the High Court, more than 150 policemen were deputed. All the vehicles from Tamil Nadu entering Karnataka were thoroughly checked by the police near Attibele circle.
