The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Over 12,000 AIADMK volunteers arrested across the State

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Friday, Jun 08, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Over 12,000 AIADMK volunteers arrested across the State

Special Correspondent

They were protesting against CMDA demolition notice and remarks published inMurasoli

ANGRY PROTEST: AIADMK volunteers staging a demonstration against CMDA notice and remarks published in Tamil daily `Murasoli' against party general secretary Jayalalithaa, in Kumbakonam on Thursday. — Photo: Special Arrangement

CHENNAI: Over 12,000 AIADMK volunteers were arrested in various parts of the State on Thursday for alleged unlawful assembly, blocking traffic, endangering safety in public place and damaging public property.

They were protesting against the CMDA demolition notice with regard to the AIADMK headquarters and remarks made in the DMK party organ Murasoli against AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa.

Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee, in a statement said according to reports reaching the police headquarters, 12,115 AIADMK volunteers and office-bearers, including 692 women, were arrested and sent for remand.

At Thiruchitrambalam junction in Villupuram district, a group of 27 demonstrators, led by the Vanur MLA Ganapathy, burnt copies of Murasoli. When the Kottakuppam inspector tried to put out the flames, one of the demonstrators poured petrol. The Inspector sustained burns and was admitted to JIPMER Hospital.

Windscreens of buses were damaged at Thirukovilur, Vedaranyam, Thiruthuraipoondi and Mannargudi. The windscreen of a government bus and two cars were damaged in stone throwing at Ariyanur junction in Salem district. The police intervened and averted a clash between AIADMK and DMK workers.

Leaders held

Former Ministers T.M. Selvaganapathy, P.C. Ramasamy, K.K. Balasubramanian, Annavi, Vilvanathan, Jeevanantham, Anwar Raja, Somasundaram, B. Valarmathi, Jennifer Chandran and Vijayalakshmi Palanichamy; MPs P.G. Narayanan, Govindarajan, Thangathamizhselvan, Kamaraj, Perumal and Syedkhan; and MLAs P.K. Sekar Babu, V.P. Kalairajan, Bader Sayeed, Senthamizhan, Vijayakumar, C.V. Shanmugam, Pandurangan, Agri Krishnamurthy, Senthil Balaji and Anita Radhakrishnan were among those arrested.

Around 6,000 AIADMK workers, who attempted to block traffic, were arrested as a preventive measure and later released.

Necessary bandobust arrangements have been made in the State.

Stringent action will be taken against those indulging in unlawful activities, Mr. Mukherjee warned.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko condemned the arrests.

In a statement here, he said going by the actions against the AIADMK, there was great danger to democracy in Tamil Nadu.

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