TIRUCHY: The humiliation of Tamil women in Idukki on Tuesday found its echoes in the Cauvery delta districts, as Tamil nationalist groups staged protests, while miscreants tried to vandalise establishments and shops owned by Malayalees here. Although, Malayalees were running tea and juice shops, besides bakeries in Thanjavur and Kumbakonam for many decades, this is the first time their business faced threats in the area. All the shops and bakeries owned by Keralites downed shutters in Kumbakonam, fearing attacks by local miscreants. As news of attacks on Keralite shops spread, police swung into action and guarded a popular jewellery shop in Thanjavur. However, they were not able to provide cover to all shops, since they were located at several places. Before the arrival of police, stones were pelted at a major jewellery shop owned by Keralites in Kumbakonam. Members of Tamil Desa Podhuvudamai Katchi, who staged protests, were arrested in Thanjavur and Kumbakonam. When the arrests were made, workers belonging to the Naam Thamizhar and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi condemned the police action and hailed slogans against Malayalees. The miscreants who tried to ransack the shops, refrained from assaulting people and asked the Keralites owning them to run away. A staff of the jewellery outlet was injured when a stone hit him. No untoward incidents were reported in Tiruchy, where many shops owned by Keralites are functioning.
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