Somanur Violence
Shops remaining closed in Somanur on Friday in protest against the violence during a funeral procession on Tuesday. The hartal observed on Friday at Somanur town, about 25 km from here, in protest against the violent incidents during a funeral procession passed off peacefully.According to the police, Chinnaraj (26), a powerloom worker, was found dead with head injuries on the roadside on July 7. During his funeral procession in Shamalapuram area on July 8, stones were hurled at shops, on buses and private vehicles.
The family members and relatives of Chinnaraj raised suspicion over the circumstances that led to his death. It is learnt that Chinnaraj was married to Gomathy and it was an inter-caste love marriage amid opposition, hence the suspicion.In protest against the violent incidents and to ensure that such incidents do not recur, an all-party meeting at Karumathampatti called for a hartal on Friday. The police had registered a case against nearly 20 persons under five sections in connection with the violence.
As many as 1.2 lakh powerlooms, 2,000 modern powerlooms and more than 50 sizing mills downed shutters. Police reinforcements were deployed in large numbers. The hartal had reportedly affected production worth close to Rs. 60-odd crore.
