Police lathicharged Vanniyar Sangam activists, who resorted to a road blockade at Madagadipet following the removal of a statue of Vanniyar leader S S Ramasami Padayachi on Monday morning.
According to police, the activists had installed the statue at Muthamizh Vayil in Madagadipet on Sunday morning without obtaining permission from the authorities. Following this the Thirubhuvanai police removed the statue by night.
On hearing about this, Vanniyar Sangam activists gathered at the Muthamizh Vayil in Madagadipet around 6.30 am on Monday morning, asking the police to explain their move.
The activists, led by Parasuraman, resorted to a road blockade on the Puducherry-Villupuram road, demanding the reinstallation of the statue at the very same place.
Meanwhile, a few of the protestors pelted stones at buses passing by and damaged the windshields. Munnusamy, a resident of Thirukoilur village, and a child, suffered injuries from the broken glass pieces. Police resorted to lathicharge Thirubhuvanai police station sub-inspector Ramesh said five of the activists, including their leader Parasuraman, were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.