Post Gaja, public anger over relief surfaces

Handlooms and Textiles Minister Manian, who is also the MLA of Vedaranyam is said to be having a tough time in his home segment. He found it a difficult task to move from Vedaranyam to Nagapattinam as people have been protesting against him continuously. On Sunday, around 10 am, when the Minister’s convoy was proceeding from Vedaranyam, a group of locals had reportedly pelted stones at the convoy when it reached Vilunthanmavadi in which one of the cars that was following the convey was damaged. Meanwhile, the Minister claimed that it was a sheer political vendetta and requested the public not to come to roads. He ensured that compensation would be provided to farmers accordingly.

Pudukkottai district too remained tense after the vehicles of officials, including the police, were torched by miscreants late on Saturday. Police held around 100 residents for the offence.

On Saturday at 10.45 pm, the revenue officials DRO Ramasamy, RDS Daisy Kumar, Alangudi Tahsildhar Rathnavathi, Alangudi DSP Ayyanar and Tiruvarankulam BDO Janakiraman went to Kothamangalam after visiting various other affected areas. However, the residents thought that they were coming late and resorted to a road block and argued with the officials. Suddenly, they toppled the vehicle and torched them.

The officials, who were under the custody of the people managed to escape, while the DSP Ayyanar was holding talks with the people. However, the irate public reportedly pelted stones at him in which he sustained injury on his head and was rushed to Pudukkottai GH. On information, DIG (Tiruchy Range) Lalitha Lakshmi rushed with 500 personnel and took control. On Sunday evening, police held more than 100 persons.