Two buses were damaged and three persons, including a Sub-Inspector of police, were injured during road blockade staged by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) to protest the vandalisation of the Ambedkar statue at Abhishegapakkam.Over 1,350 VCK activists, including the party’s State convenor S Paavaanan, were arrested during the protests held at 21 places in Puducherry.
SPolice (South) S Bairavasamy said the windshields of a private bus and a van were damaged by the protesters at Karikalampakkam. Sub-inspector Rajamanohar, who tried to stop the protestors, was injured. Another bus was damaged at Poraiyur-Ousteri junction. Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Karikalampakkam after a section of the local people objected to the road blockade. Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd, which regrouped in a colony and blocked the road.
Paavaanan, who courted arrest at the Venkata Subba Reddiar Statue Junction, said the agitation was also to protest the removal of statues from Pathukannu and Thiruvandarkoil by the Revenue and Police officials. He said police inaction would only encourage the culprits involved in the desecration of Ambedkar statues.
In Karaikal, as many as 100 VCK activists were detained by the police. During the protest on Bharathiar Road near Karaikal bus stand, the VCK cadre demanded installation of a CCTV camera near all Ambedkar statues.
Source :: The New Indian Express

Police personnel’s  presence was stepped up in the village to prevent untoward incidents.
Over 100 residents of Thattacherry colony, including 20 women and party functionaries of VCK squatted on the Arni-Cheyyar road at Thattacherry junction for nearly three hours from 8 am. The protestors demanded that police take immediate action and arrest the miscreants who damaged the statue of Ambedkar.
Sources said that the right arm of the cement statue, which was installed in 1998, was found damaged around 8 am on Friday. Sources said the statue must have been damaged during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.
Angry residents of the colony gathered on the main road and staged a protest, creating tension. They alleged that the caste Hindus from neighbouring Irukur village were behind the mischief. On information, the functionaries of the VCK from the neighbouring villages gathered and blocked the road.
Meanwhile, deputy superintendent of police of Ranipet Baskaran and the Arcot tahsildar rushed to the spot to pacify the agitators. The protesters withdrew the protest around 11 am after police officials assured them of prompt action.
A complaint was lodged with the police. Police registered a case and launched an investigation. “The statue was installed in 1998 amidst a lot of problems between Dalits and caste Hindus. The problem seems to have resurfaced,” said a police officer. He added that five police personnel were deployed in the village to avert untoward incidents.
Source :: The New Indian Express