VELLORE: Shop owners in Ambur town heeded to the call of Hindu Makkal Katchi and kept their shops shut between 6am and 6pm on Saturday demanding the arrest of perpetrators (under the National Security Act), including political bigwigs, who allegedly incited the riot and the ensuing violence that took place last week. The shutting down of all shops in Ambur town affected normalcy in the locality.
Violence erupted when several hundred youth began protesting the death of a Muslim youth, Shameel Ahmed, following police custody during which time Ahmed was allegedly beaten up. He later died in hospital. The protest spiraled out of control with several policemen and women getting injured, some seriously enough to be hospitalised. The Inspector attached to Pallikonda police, Martin Premraj, has since been suspended. Police arrested over 100 Muslim youth with evidence from CCTVC footage who are currently lodged in various prisons in Tamil Nadu.
HMK, Ambur unit, called for the shutting down of shops for one day distributing posters and flyers to widely publicise the ‘bandh’ days in advance. They called for the arrest of “influential” people who, they claim, were behind the clash.
In addition to police personnel getting injured protestors damaged government buses and set fire to vehicles and resorted to anti-social activity that disturbed the peace. CB-CIC is now in the process of conducting their inquiry.