Private buses and vans are making quick buck at night as the government has suspended bus services from Vellore since Wednesday.
PMK party cadres have been holding protests, agitations, road rokos and damaging private properties at various places across the district for the past few days condemning the arrest of party leaders Ramadoss and Anbumani.
Following this, as per the instruction of the police, bus services have been cancelled during night since Wednesday. This in turn is lucrative for private buses, minibuses and vans who charge high ticket fare. Some passengers complained that these vehicles charge `400 to Chennai, `40 to Arcot and `50 to Walajah from Vellore. Private vehicles were found lining up on the bus stand premises.
However, a few government buses on important routes were being operated from the Vellore New Bus Stand Friday night with police escort.
Black flag protest was staged at Ramanathapuram area near Melpadi in Ranipet for the past two days, protesting the arrest of PMK leader Ramadoss and his son Anbumani.
They later held a protest and rally on Friday in the same area following which the police arrested two persons on Saturday as the protest was held without obtaining police permission.
Over 10 buses were damaged in stone pelting incidents on Friday. A bus used by special police force was also set on fire in Walajah in the late hours of Friday.