In the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, a group of men arrived in Lawspet on ECR road in Puducherry, and vandalised the vehicles parked there. The incident was witnessed by a resident, Rajvel*, who immediately called the police. But by the time he was able to reach the police – and by the time they arrived – the men had managed to damage 10 private vehicles and a government vehicle with iron rods, Rajvel says. Four of the six miscreants – all members of the BJP – have been arrested, the Puducherry police confirmed.

"By the time the police got there it was close 1.20 am and the vandals began to flee. We chased them and caught hold them. They were then taken to the Lawspet police station," Rajvel says. Speaking to TNM, an investigating officer confirms, "They were all drunk and an FIR has been filed in the case.”

The incident happened hours before BJP’s dawn-to-dusk bandh in Puducherry on the Sabarimala controversy. “If we hadn't arrested these men immediately, we may have seen more brazen behaviour and violence during the day,” the police say. They however confirm that Puducherry was largely peacefully and public transport was not affected by the bandh.

When TNM contacted BJP Puducherry unit president and nominated legislator V Saminathan for comment on the vandalism of public and private property, he confirmed that the four men who were arrested were from the BJP. "Yes, four people were arrested. But you can't simply say they were responsible," he said.

The accused have been booked for deterring a public servant from doing his duty and under the The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act

*Name changed.