Periyar statue desecration: Vandalism incidents in TN

Chennai, Dec 8 (UNI) Even as Dravidar Kazhagam President K Veeramani appealed for calm among the party activists, incidents of vandalism were reported from some parts of Tamil Nadu today in the aftermath of desecration of Periyar's statue at Srirangam.

A report from Villupuram said tension prevailed in the town as a stone idol of a Hindu God installed before the Sankarapuram Taluk Office was found damaged this morning.

Police said some posters recovered from the scene claimed the idol was damaged in retaliation to the desecration of Periyar and Ambedkar statues.

As many as four activists of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam were arrested in this connection.

Following the incident, general public and activists of political parties resorted to road blockades in protest. The DMK and AIADMK volunteers also organised separate road blockades to condemn the incident.

Heavy police force was deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

At Erode, an idol of another Hindu God was vandalised allegedly by DK activists who also attacked the temple priest.

In Chennai, a petrol bomb was thrown at a religious discourse centre on the busy West Mambalam Area of the city by a gang. A flower vendor was injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association condemned the desecration of Periyar's statue yesterday at Srirangam and said the miscreants had no connection whatsoever with the asssociation or the peace-loving Brahmin community.

UNI GM MSJ DB2222