A Hindu Munnani functionary Sasikumar was hacked by a group of persons at Subramaniampalayam

Communal violence triggered by the murder of a Hindu Munnani leader C. Sasikumar by an unidentified gang late on Thursday night brought Coimbatore to a near standstill on Friday with arsonists targeting commercial establishments and premises most of which were reportedly owned by Muslims. The neighbouring Tirupur district too witnessed sporadic violence.

Motive not known

Sasikumar, who was attacked with knives by a four-member motorcycle-borne gang near the G.N. Mills bus stop within Thudiyalur police station limits, died while being rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Thursday night. Police are yet to ascertain the reason for his murder.

On Friday, scores of people who headed to pay homage to Sasikumar and later participated in his funeral procession resorted to violence, pelting stones at buses and shops at several places. They also allegedly targeted places of worship, creating a scare.

Shops, schools shut

As tension mounted, almost all shopping establishments, cinema halls and fuel stations shut down fearing large-scale violence. Many schools and colleges too were closed for the day; some of them announced a holiday by afternoon.