The bandh called by political parties and traders’ associations on Tuesday had little impact on normal life in Madurai district. Almost all shops and commercial establishments functioned as usual in the city.
Except for the arrest of nearly 300 cadres of various political parties and students who tried to lay siege to Tasmac shops and block roads, demanding total prohibition, at various parts of the district, no untoward incident was reported.
The City Police had taken into preventive custody over 70 persons, including Communist Party of India (Marxist) urban district secretary Vijayarajan and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi district secretary Anbazhagan, early in the morning.
Law student A. Nandhini, who has been involved in several anti-liquor protests and campaigns, was arrested when she, along with her father K. Anandan, tried to sit on a fast against the arrest of and attack on college students in Chennai for protesting against Tasmac shops.
The police were on their toes throughout the day as the cadres of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, VCK, CPI (M), CPI and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, in smaller groups, staged protests here and there. Members of the All Indian Democratic Women’s Association,
Students’ Federation of India and the Democratic Youth Federation of India laid siege to a private recreation centre with a bar at West Ponnagaram. The protest was led by AIDWA leaders Sasikala and Rajeswari.
The police picked them up as the protest went on for nearly 45 minutes.
Protests were reported at Jaihindpuram, Harveypatti, Villapuram, Teppakulam, Anna Nagar among other places.
Vehicular traffic on Madurai-Melur Road was disrupted for sometime after a group of Law College students staged a road roko against the attack on students in Chennai.
Demonstrations were also staged in Karungalakudi, Thottappanaickanur, Othakadai, Alanganallur, Thenur and Nagamalai Pudukottai under rural police limits.
