Pandians supporters block NH

DINDIGUL: The body of the slain founder-president of Dalit outfit Devendrakula Vellalar Federation, Pasupathi Pandian, who was murdered in Dindigul on Tuesday night, was taken to Thoothukudi, his native district on Wednesday. Tension prevailed in Dindigul as his supporters blocked Dindigul-Madurai National Highway for over six hours.After the post-mortem on Wednesday morning, the body of the slain Dalit leader was handed over to his relatives. At 8 am the body was in an ambulance on its way to Alangarathittu in Thoothukudi district. Meanwhile his supporters blocked the Dindigul-Madurai National highway near Chinnalapatti from 7 am causing a gridlock on the NH in both directions on all four lanes. They demanded that the murderers be arrested immediately. The blockade was lifted on two lanes towards Madurai after police reasoned with the agitators that only if the road was clear would the body reach Thoothukudi. After the ambulance crossed  Chinnalapatti around 1.15 pm, the agitators cleared the road completely. Shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters voluntarily to avoid any untoward incident.