Violence fears prompt people to put off trip

MADURAI: Following sporadic incidents of violence and road block in the southern districts over the killing of Dalit leader Pasupathi Pandian in Dindigul, many people from Chennai, scheduled to fly to Thoothukudi, cancelled their trips, fearing violence there. Shops and commercial establishments downed shutters voluntarily in Dindigul town, where schools and colleges were also closed.While the situation remained tense in the southern districts since Wednesday morning, it turned violent when his body was brought to Thoothukudi by around 1,000 of his followers. The police tried to divert the procession through the National Highway to his native village Alangarathattu. However, his followers refused to accept the request of the police and insisted on taking his body through Thoothukudi town.When Pandian’s body was taken inside the town, the supporters who were leading the procession indulged in vandalism. Even when the situation turned violent, the police apparently did not try to control the crowd, according to some members of the public.Meanwhile, in Tirunelveli, students who had planned long distance travel were stranded as buses went off the roads following incidents of violence.