VELLORE: The one-day bandh called by the BJP and other Hindu outfits in Ambur and Vaniyambadi following an attack on a senior BJP functionary Sivaprakasam of Vellakuttai in Vaniyambadi on Friday by an unidentified gang of six, ended without incident on Saturday with heavy police presence and the majority of the vendors in both towns downing their shutters.
The other Hindu outfits that called for the bandh were Vijayabharatha Makkal Katchi (VMK), Hindu Makkal Katchi and Hindu Munnani. The gang members came on a motorbike, attacked Sivaprakasam and fled. Police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Senior police officials including IG (North zone) Manjunatha also camped in the area and periodically reviewed the security arrangements.
On Saturday, the majority of the shops, both in Vaniyambadi and Ambur were shut. With police patrolling the towns, the bandh passed off peacefully.
Sivaprakasam who had received multiple injuries and who was admitted to the Vaniyambadi GH following the incident, was shifted to Vellore Government Medical college hospital and is reported to be out of danger.
Police sources said that 40 members of the BJP and VMK including the president of the VMK, Jaishankar were taken into preventive custody while another 30 who had staged a demonstration were also detained.