High drama was witnessed on Arni Road on Wednesday, when residents of Virupatchipuram, of ward 41 of Vellore Corporation, demanded an apology and transfer of a woman sub-inspector (SI) attached to the Bagayam police station.
The residents said the SI had used unparliamentary language when they were staging a road roko, over supply of drinking water.
Residents of Ambedkar Street and Mariamman Koil Street held a road roko on Arni Road around 8.30 am on Wednesday. Local police arrived at the spot and while managing agitators, SI Deepa allegedly used abusive words against women protesters and slapped one of them. Protestors also said the SI had scolded them using the community name.
Councillor of ward 41, K Suriya Achari and Bagayam police inspector Raja arrived at the spot and pacified the agitators. Achari said, “Due to an electricity problem, the tank in Sainathapuram, from which water is supplied to Virupatchipuram, could not be filled. So, instead of water being supplied at 7 am, it will be supplied at 4 pm.”
An hour later, about 100 residents held a road roko, seeking an apology and sought SI Deepa’s transfer. The residents even sent back two water tankers. Anaicut MLA M Kalaiarasu then arrived and assured protesters that he would speak to the Superintendent of Police on the issue.