Ramanathapuram/Chennai: The situation in
Ramanathapuram district is slowly returning to normalcy after being marred by violence leading to the police firing on a stone-pelting mob at Paramakudi, which claimed seven lives.
"The situation in most parts of the district is
peaceful... a holiday has been declared for all educational
institutions in the district," Collector N Arun Roy told reporters.
Prohibitory orders are still in force, he added.
With two more persons succumbing to injuries at a hospital
late last night, the toll in the firing rose to seven.
In Chennai, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told the state
Assembly that a retired High Court Judge would probe the
firing incident which, she indicated, could have been the
culmination of communal tension.
"Some of you (opposition members) who spoke here said it
was not communal violence. If it be so, we are also happy. But
the fact is that derogatory remarks were written on a wall in
Mandalamanickam pacheri village (Ramanathapuram district)
against Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar (a highly respected
nationalist leader)," she said.
"Following this a Class XI student Palanikumar from the
village was killed on September 9. Then (Dalit leader) John
Pandian leaves (to pay homage on the death anniversary of
Dalit leader Imanuel Sekaran) and violence breaks out.
Therefore, all these incidents have happened in an
inter-connected chain-like fashion," she said.
PTI
