CHENNAI: The continuing anti-US protest in Chennai claimed its first head on Tuesday with the state government shunting out city police chief J K Tripathy. The police commissioner got his marching orders on a day the city was rocked by another massive protest, which saw Muslim activists clashing with police and traffic disruptions lasting hours at several places. Three protesters and five policemen were injured in clashes, and some vehicles were set afire.

Taking a serious view of Friday's attack on the US consulate and the protests gaining momentum thereafter, the government posted additional director general of police S George as the city police commissioner on Tuesday evening. Tripathy has been posted as ADGP prisons.

The protests, against an anti-Islam film, on Tuesday once again reflected the growing influence of radical elements in various Muslim outfits. About 10,000 people, mostly in the age group of 15 to 20 years, belonging to 23 Muslim organizations, including Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and India Towheed Jamaath, turned up for the agitation in front of the Makkah Masjid on Mount Road at 3pm. They had come from various parts of the state.

While police tried to restrict the crowd to the area between Spencer Plaza and the mosque, small groups tried to move towards the US consulate along Pattullas Road and Smith Road. Police chased them away. Though their leaders asked the protesters to disperse around 5pm, the cadres were in no mood to leave and chose to stay put on the road.

Sensing trouble, India Towheed Jamaath leader S M Bakkar asked the crowd to move to the mosque for prayers. While much of the crowd dispersed, about 1,000 youth stayed back and pelted stones at the police.

A challenge to the administration

The protests against the controversial film, 'Innocence of Muslims', has thrown up a big challenge for the administration. By bringing life to a halt in parts of the city for successive days, radical elements have gained attention. "There have not been such agitations in recent years. It is an indication that at the slightest provocation, there could be similar shows of strength in the future," said a bureaucrat.

Did cops misjudge the numbers?

It looks as if Chennai police misjudged the size of the crowd expected for the demonstration on Tuesday. While they estimated a turnout of 2,000-odd protesters, several thousand congregated on Anna Salai , which disrupted traffic. Police had given organizers a few options for venue s away from US consulate as they wanted the crowd to be kept away. But in the process, they ended up blocking Anna Salai.

