Protests spread to Kovai, 40 arrested

COIMBATORE: Frenzied agitations over the ongoing inter-State Mullaiperiyar dam safety row spread to Coimbatore on Wednesday with fringe groups targeting a few commercial establishments owned by Malayalis here.However, barring minor violence at a bakery outlet, the agitations at other places were restricted to sloganeering and downing of shutters for a while.Police acted swiftly and arrested 40 persons, including 11 college students, in connection with the incidents. The first incident took place at the commercial hub of Cross Cut Road around noon. A group of cadre belonging to Desiya Pothu Udamai Katchi assembled in front of the Joy Alukkas and Khazana jewellery outlets and raised slogans demanding closure of the shops.According to Gopalan, an eyewitness, “They shouted that Tamil women were harassed by Malayalis and that Sabarimala pilgrims were attacked in Kerala. They were attempting to forcibly close the shutters when the police rounded them up.” Both shops continued to do business for the rest of the day.Meanwhile, rumours spread that a group of persons were planning to attack a branch of KR Bakes opposite the Coimbatore Central Railway Station. However, the protestors gave the slip and rushed towards another outlet of KR Bakes located a few meters away, on State Bank Road. The agitators, said to be members of TN Manavar Kazhagam, entered the shop and raised slogans.   A couple of agitators went on to break a glass pane of a showcase in the shop.  Police arrested 21 persons, including students, in connection with the incident.