Violence, arson in Tamil Nadu following Jayalalithaa's conviction

Stone-pelting and torching of public property, attacks on mediapersons and forceful closure of shops erupted across Tamil Nadu today as mobs reacted to the sentencing of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to four years imprisonment by a special court in Bangalore in a graft case.

It all began with burning of effigies of senior DMK leaders, including party chief M Karunanidhi, and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy when the conviction was announced and violence rocked the state after the court sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore. Some hours after the conviction was announced, most of the private and public vehicles went off the roads in Chennai, leaving students and office-goers stranded. Crowds then forced shops to down shutters.

Chennai: AIADMK supporters protest outside Subramanian Swamy's Residence #Jayaverdict pic.twitter.com/BtswiWQJrW

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2014

Protesters went on the rampage in many parts of the state damaging shops.

Mediapersons of TV channels were attacked near Poes Garden, Jayalalithaa's residence, while their cameras were damaged, police said.

Chennai: Earlier today, Mediapersons attacked by AIADMK workers outside Jayalalithaa's Residence #Jayaverdict pic.twitter.com/mvwZrjF6at

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2014

Chennai: Earlier today, Mediapersons attacked by AIADMK workers outside Jayalalithaa's Residence #Jayaverdict pic.twitter.com/9hS0DehWmj

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2014

Several people were injured in violence in various parts of the state in which many vehicles including public and private buses were damaged, reports reaching the state headquarters suggested. As the news of the conviction spread, AIADMK cadres' became despondent and women activists were seen wailing.

Chennai: Self immolation attempt outside Jayalalithaa's Residence #Jayaverdict pic.twitter.com/wkwuwjx6ZS

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2014

Sensing trouble, DMK sought extra protection to the party office and some of its leaders, including its General Secretary K Anbazhagan who had impleaded in the wealth case filed against Jayalalithaa and on whose petition the trial was shifted from Tamil

In Madurai, the stronghold of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's son M K Alagiri, AIADMK activists allegedly ransacked vehicles parked on the road, pelted stones and smashed window panes of several vehicles to vent their anger.

Police said that in Coimbatore, the DMK office was ransacked by protestors who also burnt the pictures of Karunanidhi and Anbazhagan. All the shops remained closed while stone pelting incidents were reported. Similar incidents have been reported in Udhagamandalam, Tiruppur, Palladam and other areas.

Police said parts of Kancheepuram, Salem and Cuddalore also witnessed violent incidents with protesters burning effigies of Karunanidhi and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy whose petition led to filing of the disproportionate assets case and culminated in her conviction.

Stones were thrown at Swamy's residence in Chennai, police said. Movement of buses between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Kerala has been affected. Police have deployed forces in various violence-hit areas.

An AIADMK activist S Venkatesan (65) attempted to set himself ablaze here by pouring kerosene. He was rushed to hospital where he is battling for life, police said.

As the protests continued, Governor K Rosaiah, summoned top officials of the state administration, including police officers, and reviewed the situation and directed them to initiate steps to maintain law and order.