The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Some tense moments in south Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 19, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Some tense moments in south Chennai

Staff Reporter

CPI (M) activists allege bogus voting in Bheemannapet booth

ANXIOUS MOMENT: Police close the gates of a polling booth in Bheemannapet (ward No. 142) for a few minutes when CPI (M) and DMDK members protested "bogus voting" during the Chennai Corporation byelections on Sunday. — Photo: S. R. Raghunatha n

Chennai : Conflict at a polling booth in the Bheemannapet ward (No. 142) in Adyar zone on Sunday brought memories of the October 2006 local body polls in the city.

CPI (M) agents and workers alleged that a group of persons, whom they suspect to be PMK members, barged into a polling booth off C.P. Ramaswamy Road and cast bogus votes. Pointing to a swelling on his forehead, one of the agents said that he was hit with a plastic chair above his left eye. CPI (M) agent V. Anil Kumar wrote out a complaint to the Presiding Officer in the booth (number 2223). But it was not accepted, he said. "Even the police supported the election officials who refused to receive the complaint," Mr. Kumar told reporters.

For a few tense moments, it looked like violence could erupt. About 25 policemen and women, including a team from the Special Action Group, were stationed outside the booth. The gates were closed for a few minutes to keep away the CPI (M) members, who soon calmed down, and then voting resumed.

At another booth in the Bheemannapet ward, DMDK supporters alleged that police seized their vehicles for no reason. A group of DMDK men, travelling in a car and van past the Abhiramapuram police station, were stopped and their vehicles searched. The vehicles were taken to Teynampet station, but nothing was found in them, DMDK workers said.

BJP State Vice-President H. Raja protested outside the Ice House police station when the party's district president Saravanan (an agent) was held. Mr. Raja said that BJP agents had helped police to identify two men who cast bogus votes. It was commendable that police arrested the bogus voters but there was no reason why the BJP agent should be held.

In most other parts of South Chennai, polling went off smoothly but very slowly in the morning. It picked up later in the day. A large number of police were deputed at sensitive booths in Srinivasapuram and Kesavaperumalpuram in Mylapore constituency. At 9 a.m., Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G.K. Vasan cast his vote at a booth in Alwarpet. Mr. Vasan said that he was confident about people taking the right decision and recognise members of the Democratic Progressive Alliance.

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