Shops, business establishments shut in Tirumangalam area
The Hindu
All arterial roads at Tirumangalam area in Madurai district looked deserted on Tuesday as almost all commercial establishments remained shut in protest against collection of toll for vehicles from the local areas at Kappalur tollgate.
All arterial roads at Tirumangalam area in Madurai district looked deserted on Tuesday as almost all commercial establishments remained shut in protest against collection of toll for vehicles from local areas at Kappalur tollgate.
As announced, all shops in Tirumangalam and a few shops in Kallikudi and T. Kallupatti remained closed. As part of the protest, residents of Tirumangalam and neighbouring areas, along with AIADMK MLA R.B. Udayakumar, protested near the tollgate.
As the protesters refused to disperse, police detained all of them, including Mr. Udayakumar, in a private marriage hall at Melakottai and released them later in the evening.
A. Bakkiyam, a roadside flower vendor in Tirumangalam, who erected a poster about the strike, said it was their duty, irrespective of the size of the shop, to show solidarity with the protesters.
“Though I do not pay the toll very often, I feel how others suffer. Even my son who has to cross the tollgate in his load vehicle carrying vegetables is facing the ordeal,” she added.
Hameed Raja of Kappalur toll gate opposing organisation said just because the people refused to listen to the district administration and the Minister, they turned the peaceful protest into an agitation.