Tirunelveli: Condemning the killing of a noted criminal Kittappa in a police encounter here on Saturday, his supporters pelted stones at vehicles, damaging at least five state-owned buses and a private bus.
The Tirunelveli police arrested 22 persons in connection with the incidents of violence since last night that spilled over to Sunday.
Kittappa, who had more than 60 cases including murder charges against him, was shot dead by the special team sub-inspector, Sivaramakishnan when the rowdy along with two of his friends attempted to hack the police who was trying to arrest him.
Following the incidents, the Cheranmahadevi magistrate, Maya Krishnan, within whose jurisdiction the scene of encounter falls visited the spot and held an enquiry.
The magistrate, Mr. Maya Krishnan also visited the Tirunelveli medical college hospital, where autopsy was done on Kittappa's body, besides enquiring with the relatives of the deceased and the doctors, who did the post-mortem.
Kittappa's wife Pechiyammal along with her relatives and villagers thronged the hospital on Saturday night and protested against the police action alleging that Kittappa was arrested and killed by the police. They too demanded an independent enquiry into the encounter death by a sitting High court Judge. Some of Kittappa's supporters too engaged in violence in the city condemning the police.
While the stone pelting on passing vehicles since Saturday night was reported from two places by different groups of the deceased's supporters, the stoning state buses and some private vehicles continued this morning too by another group of supporters. Police in all arrested 22 persons in connection with these unruly incidents.
