Widespread protests have erupted in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, led by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) party, following the thrashing of one of their cadres allegedly by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party members. The police are on high alert to control the escalating protests. However, the situation intensified as Vanniyar Sangam from various districts joined the protests, further fueling the unrest.
A few days ago, a PMK member named Chellathurai (28), from Manjakkollai village near Bhuvanagiri in Cuddalore district, was returning home after delivering wedding invitations to his relatives. He encountered a group of over 15 people in a village called P Udaiyur, who attacked him brutally with sticks and liquor bottles after he told them to stay out of his way and stop drinking. Chellathurai lost consciousness from the injuries he sustained, which included severe bleeding from his head, face, and body.
According to a report by Asianet Tamil, even after he fell, the violent mob continued to humiliate him by kicking him and stomping on the Vanniyar caste symbol on his shirt, all while recording the incident on video to showcase their “victory.” These acts of cruelty on the PMK member were then shared on social media, which went viral, leading to the widespread protests.
According to police reports, a group of young men from Manjakkollai, including A Suriya (28), A Ajay (26), S Anandaraj (30), K Vignesh (26), and S Anand (27), were drinking at a cemetery in P Udaiyur on 1 November night. They were joined by others from P Udaiyur, including V Saravanamorthy (26), K Kavi Varman (21), U Anburaj (25), K Kathiravan (25), Premkumar (20), and Vikraman (24). A heated argument erupted between the two groups, and Chellathurai (28), a PMK cadres, resulting in a physical confrontation that left him severely injured. The assailants fled the scene afterward.
Locals found the injured Chellathurai and took him to Cuddalore General Hospital. The Bhuvanagiri police registered a case based on his complaint, leading to the arrest of six individuals from P Udaiyur on the same day on five different charges. PMK supporters and Chellathurai’s relatives protested on 3 November, blocking the Vriddhachalam-Chidambaram Road at the Manjakollai bus stop to demand further arrests.
Chidambaram sub-division DSP T. Augustin Joshua Lamech spoke with the protesters, and after the police provided assurances, the crowd dispersed. According to report by The New Indian Express, a relative of Chellathurai vandalized flagpoles belonging to the PMK and VCK, claiming they were the source of the conflict. Police assured the protesters that the revenue department would handle the removal of the flagpoles.
Regrettably, the video of a woman breaking flagpoles of both the party was deliberately edited and shared, showing her specifically targeting and destroying the VCK party’s flagpole. This act further stoked unrest and the video quickly went viral, escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, VCK members, again, held a meeting in Bhuvanagiri under the guise of protest, where they spoke derogatorily about the Vanniyar community and threatened that they will cut the head of Vanniyar Sangam president PT. Arulmozhi.
In this context, Cuddalore is witnessing intense protests from the Vanniyar Sangam, and the police have deployed over 500 personnel to prevent any untoward incidents.
விசிக-பாமக பயங்கர மோதலுக்கு காரணமான முதல் அடி.. திடுக் வீடியோ – பதற்றத்தில் வடதமிழகம்#cuddalore #vck #pmk #protest #police #thanthitv pic.twitter.com/ijpGQBP5Ax
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) November 7, 2024
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A few days ago, aPattali Makkal Katchi cadre named Chellathurai from Manjakkollai village next to Bhuvanagiri in Cuddalore district was returning to his hometown through a village called P Udaiyur after giving his sister’s wedding invitation to his relatives. Enraged when Chellathurai told him to stay out of the way and drink alcohol, the gang comprising of more than 15 people brutally attacked him with sticks and liquor bottles. Chellathurai fell unconscious with injuries and bleeding all over the gang’s murderous attack head, face and body.
Even then, the murderous mob humiliated him by kicking him, stomping on the Vanniyar caste symbol on his shirt chest and insulting him capuring the video. Apart from that, these events without humanity and culture have been recorded as videos and posted on social websites with the aim of showing them as their achievements.
According to the police, A Suriya (28), A Ajay (26), S Anandaraj (30), K Vignesh (26) and S Anand (27) from Manjakollai village were boozing at a cemetery in P Udaiyur village on Friday night. V Saravanamorthy (26), K Kavi Varman (21), U Anburaj (25), K Kathiravan (25), Premkumar (20), and Vikraman (24) from P Udaiyur, were also drinking at the site. Subsequently, a heated argument broke out between the two groups. A Chellathurai (28), a PMK functionary, arrived at the spot to support the Manjakollai group, and sustained severe injuries in the physical confrontation that ensued. The rest of the men fled the scene.
Locals spotted an injured Chellathurai and rushed him to the Cuddalore GH. Bhuvanagiri police filed a case based on his complaint, charging six youngsters from P Udaiyur under five sections, leading to their arrest the same day. In response, PMK cadre, joined by Chellathurai’s relatives staged a protest on Sunday, blocking Vriddhachalam-Chidambaram Road at the Manjakollai bus stop demanding arrests.
Chidambaram sub-division DSP T Augustin Joshua Lamech engaged in discussions with protesters. Following assurances from police, the crowd dispersed. During the protest, one of Chellathurai’s kin damaged flagpoles belonging to the PMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), claiming these flags were causing conflicts. Police intervened and assured that the revenue department would address the issue of removing the flagpoles.
The VCK members, who could not bear to even console the victims, called a meeting in the name of protest in Bhuvanagiri and spoke in a derogatory manner against the people of Vanniars. The president of the Vanniyar Sangh, P. Tha. They have threatened to cut off Arulmozhi’s head. Apart from that, “What is happening in Tamilnadu now is Thiruma period. For another 42 years we will continue to beat the Vanniyars. “They should buy it and keep it,” they shouted.