The violence that broke out in Kovilpatti on Saturday after a statue of Muthuramalinga Devar was found damaged continued to rock the town on Sunday also. To avert escalation of tension, officials clamped Section 144 in the area.
Sources said that trouble began on Saturday after a statue of Muthu Ramalinga Thevar was found damaged at Sankaralingapuram. Following protests by caste Hindus, officials installed a new statue at the place. Further, 11 persons were arrested on Saturday in connection with the incident.
Though there were no protests on Sunday morning and transport services plied as usual, around noon, suddenly a group of dalits resorted to a protest alleging that the district administration in a bid to pacify caste Hindus arrested 11 persons who were not at all involved in the incident.
Following this, violence erupted again and it spread to other parts of the town. A few government buses and a private car were damaged. Protesters also stoned a bank and an ATM on Pasuvadhanai Road.
As the situation went out of control, Kovilpatti RDO Kadhiresan ordered imposition of Sec 144 in the area on Sunday and banned entry of leaders political parties and community outfits into Kovilpatti.