Enraged over the poor quality of roads allegedly laid by a contractor, irate residents of Palugal village in Kanyakumari district on Monday put up obituary posters in the hamlet.
The posters paid 'homage' to the contractor Manikandan over the pathetic state of the roads laid on the stretch between Ramavaram Chirai to Soorankuzhi villages, police said.
The residents had protested when the work began over gravel being piled up all along the stretch, contending that it would make the road unsafe.
Manikandan's relatives were shocked to see his 'obituary' and were relieved when they later learnt that these were bogus.
Local officials maintained there was a dispute between Manikandan and some local people and the posters were the outcome of the same.
Police said 12 people had been arrested for pasting the posters.