Buses damaged in violence after defacing of Thevar statue

Rajapalayam (TN), Sept 14 (PTI) Six buses were damaged in stone pelting in and around this town in Virudhunagar district after news spread that a statue of freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar was found defaced today. Three private buses, two government buses and one college bus were damaged in the stone pelting incidents. A group of people blocked road traffic at Samanthapuram but dispersed after police held talks with them. A brief picketing was held on Tenkasi road also. President of Maravar Community Sabha, where the statue was located, Nataraja Thevar said people belonging to the Thevar and SC communities were living in peace and harmony for the past ten years and some miscreants were trying to create problem by defacing the statue. Meanwhile police in Madurai, where night bus services after 7 PM were suspended to some sensitive areas for the past two days, warned that severe action, including detention under the Goondas Act, would be taken against those who damaged buses. Police said buses were damaged at Sundarapandiapuram, Ezhumalai, T.Kallupatti, Sholavandan, Avaniapuram and Karupayoorani late last night. The statues of leaders had been provided protection.