Tension mounted in the city as the bronze statue of freedom fighter, Muthuramalinga Thevar at Goripalayam junction, was desecrated by some miscreants by smearing cow dung. The stains were noticed by two women, Perumayi and Santhanammal of Sellur around 8.30 am on Monday. On information, the community leaders and representatives of All India Forward Block, Moovendar Munnetra Munnani, Dravida Vizhipunarchi Kazhagam and AIADMK, gathered at the junction and demanded immediate action against the culprits. The crowd damaged bicycles parked nearby and threatened shop owners to down shutters. Police resorted to lathicharge as some of them pelted stones at them. Later speaking to mediapersons, the state organising secretary of AIFB, P V Kathiravan, said this was the sixth such incident in the southern districts after the centenary celebration of Thevar Jeyanthi in October last. He demanded stringent action against the culprits and dismissal of police personnel in-charge of safety of the statue. In view of the incident, buses through Goripalayam junction were diverted and the place wore a deserted look for about an hour. Later fire personnel cleaned the statue. Leaders performed a palabishegam and garlanded the statue. Many arrested, buses damaged Around 62 men, including the founder leader of the MMK, Sethuraman, were arrested in Madurai, when they tried to create a road blockade condemning the desecration of the statue. As many as 52 buses were damaged during agitations held in various parts of the district condemning the desecration. About 205 persons were arrested. According to Boopathy, general manager of TNSTC, Madurai, the windshields of 52 buses have been damaged in the agitations across the district. However, except minor injury to two drivers, no one was injured in the stone pelting incidents. The damage caused so far to the TNSTC buses has been estimated to be Rs 1 lakh.
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