The city police on Saturday arrested former minister of state for railways A K Moorthy along with 32 PMK cadre for attempting to stage a road roko in Saidapet in protest against the arrest of PMK leaders Ramadoss and Anbumani, even as incidents of vandalising buses, including a private bus, were reported in and around the city.
The Moorthy-led group attempted to block the busy stretch at Saidapet near Panagal Maligai, the police said. A case was registered against them under section 151 CrPC and 7 (1) (a) of the CLA Act. They were later remanded in judicial custody.
In Kancheepuram, a bus belonging to a car spare parts manufacturing company in Oragadam, which was parked near a temple, went up in flames after miscreants threw petrol on it and set it on fire around 5.30 am. Driver Kesavan (23), who was sleeping inside the bus, escaped after he noticed the flames. The bus was supposed to leave at 6.30 am to pick up about 30 employees for work at the facility.
In another incident, a gang of six allegedly threw petrol bombs at an MTC bus (19 PP) that plied between Broadway and Injambakkam, on Friday night. The bus was returning from Injambakkam on East Coast Road when the incident took place around 10.30 pm. While the passengers escaped, alert bus driver Sudakar doused the flames. Elsewhere in Sholinganallur, stones were pelted at an MTC bus 21H on the Kelambakkam-Adyar route. Other such incidents of stone pelting too were reported in the city. In Tiruvallur district, at least five buses were vandalised on Friday. As buses stayed off roads on Saturday, commuters had a tough time as they had to resort to other modes of transport, risking their safety.
Meanwhile, miscreants hurled kerosene bombs at AIADMK MLA Raji’s house at Pavunjur village in Kancheepuram district on Tuesday night. Police said the Cheyyur MLA’s car that was parked inside was damaged. At least seven buses were vandalised and shops were also shut in some parts in the district.