PMK cadre held protests at several places in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts as part of a state-wide protest demanding total prohibition. Protestors tried to close down TASMAC outlets at several places. Over 2,500 cadre were arrested in both Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts and released later in the evening.
At a protest in Kondapalayam, near Arakkonam, PMK cadre locked up a shop, following which 18 of them were arrested and remanded to the Vellore Central Prison on Monday. Anaicut MLA Kalaiarasu, former MLA T K Raja and others were arrested and remanded to the Vellore Central Prison on Sunday. At the Vellore old bus stand on Monday, former Central minister Velu, party state deputy president N T Shanmugham and town secretary Murali were arrested for attempting to close down an outlet at the bus stand. A total of 1,058 members were held across the district.
In Tiruvannamalai town, protesters led by former MLA Manian were arrested at the bus stand. A total of 1,540 cadre were arrested.
However, around 283 TASMAC outlets in Vellore and 305 outlets in Tiruvannamalai remained open throughout Sunday night as staff and salesmen were asked to stay at the outlets. Police personnel were deployed at all the outlets across the districts.