Sterlite protest: Mixed response to trader body's bandh in Tamil Nadu

Opposition parties have called for another statewide bandh on Friday

A statewide bandh called on Thursday by the Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders Association (FTTA) received mixed response in most parts of Tamil Nadu, except in the district of Thoothukudi and the surrounding areas where shops were closed. The situation in this district continued to be tense. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have called for another statewide bandh on Friday, May 25.

The FTTA bandh was called to condemn the death of 12 people who have lost their lives in police firing during anti-Sterlite protests in the past 48 hours. While the association said the bandh received positive response and was successful across the state, reports suggest it received mixed response.

In capital Chennai, most neighborhood shops remained open. In Southern districts, especially in and around Thoothukudi, however, shops were closed.

Buses were attacked by unidentified people in Madurai, while petrol bombs were thrown at a bus depot in Tirunelveli. Buses were also attacked in Kanyakumari, besides many other southern districts.

At Tiruchy and Ranipet, public-sector company BHEL's employees protested, reports suggest. Meanwhile, there also were reports of cable TV being disconnected and the state home department ordering disconnection of internet and mobile data services in three districts of Thoothukudi, Tiruneveli and Kanyakumari.

(Photo:PTI)

The order said “a public emergency has arisen”, necessitating that internet services be stopped to prevent the spread of “rumours with half-truths”.

The state, according to the order, received information that about 20,000 people had convened due to the spread of messages through social media, and there was information that videos instigating people with half-truths were being spread via social media to disturb the public peace. Invoking the public safety and emergency rules, 2017, the government directed private telecom companies to suspend internet connection from May 23 to 27.