The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Memorial opened amid violence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 06, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Memorial opened amid violence

By J. V. Siva Prasanna Kumar

USILAMPATTI (MADURAI DISTRICT), SEPT. 5. A manimandapam (memorial) for the late P. K. Mookiah Thevar, put up here, was inaugurated amidst violent scenes this evening.

The police had to chase away protesters on at least five occasions in a matter of 30 minutes. They regrouped and threw stones and chappals at the police at regular intervals.

In the melee, a youth barged into the manimandapam with an `aruval' and charged at a group standing beside the altar there. However, the police overpowered him. Meanwhile, a group went to the rearside of the memorial and threw stones at the police standing inside.

However, a sudden downpour made the protesters take shelter in buildings surrounding the memorial, which was constructed inside the Pasumpon Mathuramalinga Thevar College.

When there was a let-up in the situation, the Sri Lankan Minister for Cultural Affairs and Education, Vijitha Herath, inaugurated the memorial and placed a wreath on the altar. He was joined by leaders of the Tamil Nadu unit of the All-India Forward Bloc, the Usilampatti MLA, L. Santhanam, and other AIFB leaders.

After the inauguration, the protesters again regrouped around the manimandapam despite the heavy downpour. But the police chased away the mob.

Why the trouble

Trouble started when supporters of P.V. Kathiresan, general secretary of the All-India Forward Bloc (Vallarasu group), arrived well before 5 p.m., time stipulated for the event, and insisted that they be given the honour of inaugurating the memorial first. Shortly thereafter, another group led by K. A. Murugan alias Muruganji of the Bharatiya Forward Bloc came, denouncing Mr. Santhanam ``for coming to participate in the inauguration.''

Picture on Page 4

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