THOOTHUKUDI: Much to the inconvenience of devotees, Tiruchendur continued to be tense for the second consecutive day owing to the standoff between Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) cadre and traders of the locality.
Since VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan was scheduled to address a party meeting in Tiruchendur on Saturday night, a large number of banners were erected by the cadre to welcome him. A section of traders objected to this, saying the digital banners were affecting their business. This resulted in a row between the cadre and traders on Friday. Traders also downed their shutters, demanding the removal of the banners.
In support of the Tiruchendur traders, their counterparts in neighbouring places also closed shops. Bus transport, though interrupted for a while, was restored.
Police say there were few disturbances when the banners were damaged, which raised the ire of VCK cadre. There were reports of stone pelting on buses and private vehicles also.
Homage to Muthukumar
Several political leaders and Tamil activists in Chennai paid homage to Muthukumar, who sacrificed his life for the sake of Lankan Tamils two years ago.
The 26-year-old youth self-immolated in Chennai on the same day in 2009 in an attempt to highlight the suffering of Eelam Tamils, at a time when innocent civilians were massacred during the last phase of war against the LTTE in the island nation.
On his second death anniversary, organised by the Muthukumar Ninaivendal Orunginaippu Kuzhu at Kolathur on Saturday, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, Tamil nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran lit the torch placed in front of Muthukumar's sister house. The torch had travelled through different parts of Tamil Nadu like Coonoor, Kanyakumari and Tiruvarur.
