The Tamil Nadu police Sunday warned violent protesters of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) of stringent action, including detention under the National Security Act and shoot-at-sight orders, if they continued to damage public property to protest the so called plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

“Those damaging government properties will booked under the NSA. Officers have been instructed to open fire if needed to prevent miscreants setting fire to buses. The suspects arrested so far are said to be VCK workers have been jailed. More arrests are likely,” Director General of Police K.P. Jain told IANS.

“Though in some far-flung areas bus services have been curtailed, commuters’ interests are being taken care of. Buses are plying as convoys with adequate police protection wherever needed,” Jain added. Violence has primarily targetted state-run buses.

Over 80 people have been jailed in various parts of Tamil Nadu after 54 government buses were damaged in protests since Thursday, according to a police press release.

Six buses were burnt in three districts since Sunday morning, including one in the capital. So far, 54 vehicles have been damaged since Thursday in Cuddalore, Madurai and Villupuram districts and in Chennai, according to police sources.

The Congress slammed “the uncontrolled lawlessness prevailing in Tamil Nadu due to inadequate police action”.

“This uncontrolled lawlessness prevailing in Tamil Nadu is reprehensible and the police action to merely arrest and send a few to jail is woefully inadequate,” said D. Sudarsanam, the floor leader of the Congress in the state assembly.

“Those destroying public property have to be put down with an iron hand - which the state government is not at all doing, for reasons best known to it,” he added.