Stray violence in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Sporadic attacks on commercial establishments owned by Malayalees in Tamil Nadu were reported on Wednesday from various parts of the state, prompting the police to act quickly by arresting miscreants and stepping up security. Jewellery showrooms of the different Alukkas grou­ps were the common target in most places though tea stalls, fruit juice shops and other establishments also came under attack, taking many by surprise as Malayalees have been running businesses  in Tamil Nadu without hindran­ces since time immemorial.In Chennai, Mohammed Ghouse, manager of a shopping complex that was targeted around 11.00 am, told Express that the owner, Mohammed Kutty, had come from Kozhikode four decades ago to set up business here, and that the four shops — a travel agency run by Kutty’s son, a tea stall, a restaurant and a bakery — had been doing brisk business facing no hostility at all till now.Ghouse said it was the failure of the Kerala government and police to provide protection to Ayyappa devotees from TN, in view of the Mullaiperiyar crisis, that had enraged some locals. Like Tami­l Nadu police, which had swung into action and provided protection to his shops, Kerala police should also ensure safety of Tamil people there, he saidSix activists of Tamil Desiya Pothu Udamai Katchi, led by Maniarsan, who attacked the shops after making enquires at the travel agency on the nativity of the owner, was later arrested by the police.In Coimbatore’s commercial hub of Cross Cut Road, TDPUK cadre assembled around noon in front of Joyalukkas Jewellery and raised slogans demanding closure of the outlet. “They shouted that Tamil women  and Sabarimala pilgrims were harassed in Kerala. They were attempting to close the shutters when police rounded them up,” Gopalan Nair, an eyewitness said.Such minor incidents were also reported from Cuddalore, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur.