Pudukai paralysed as social media post sparks caste tension

The situation was brought under control only after the section 144 was promulgated in the district. A heavy posse of police was posted in and around the village to avoid escalation of the situation and to avert fresh incidents.

It all started when miscreants posted controversial comments about the women of a particular community on social media. Taking offence of the comments, around 500 people from the community referred in the posts on social media gathered attempted to besiege the Ponnamaravathi police station late on Thursday night demanding stringent action against the persons who were involved in the mischief. The protesters left the place following an assurance from the police that action would be initiated against the mischief mongers.

However, on Friday morning the members of the offended community gathered in large numbers at various places in the district and began to create blockades by bringing down trees on several arterial roads. This left the entire district paralysed and soon many shops downed shutters.

Then the protestors started marching towards police station and attempted to besiege it. Police immediately took control of the situation and tried to hold talks with the protesters, But, the agitating groups were not convinced with the response from the police. Soon, a section of the agitators started pelting stones at the police station in which three cops and 10 members of the public were injured. The tension also brought bus operations to a complete halt in all parts of the district. Protestors also ransacked around eight police vehicles.

As the situation went out of control, the police team led by the DIG (Tiruchy Range) Lalitha Lakshmi and Pudukkottai SP Selvaraj rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control by deputing a heavy posse of police. Meanwhile, Pudukkottai district administration promulgated Section 144 to prevent fresh incidents of violence.