Chennai: A low turnout of public was witnessed on Thursday at the 68th Republic Day celebrations held near the Marina beach in Chennai, the scene of massive pro-Jallikattu protest that ended on a violent note earlier this week.
Marina was out of bounds for public for the last few days as police stepped up vigil in the vast stretch, which was occupied by thousands of protesters till January 23, while conservancy and other departments prepared the venue for the celebrations.
Police had faced a tough task evicting the protesters as sections of them fought pitched battle with them.
Keen to prevent any untoward incident as fallout of the violence on Monday, tight security arrangements were made for the event with more than 20,000 police personnel being deployed at the venue and elsewhere in the city.
In a first, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who took over the AIADMK government after his predecessor Jayalalithaa's demise, unfurled the national flag as Maharashtra Governor C H Vidyasagar Rao, who holds Additional Charge of the state, was attending Republic Day celebrations in Mumbai.
Jayalalithaa's death last month also seems to have had an impact on the turnout which was lower compared to the past.
"Amma (as Jayalalithaa was fondly called by her supporters) is not here anymore. She had that power to attract large number of people. Her death and the incidents that occurred last week made large number of people to stay away", Babu, a resident said.
