Tamil Nadu   

3 held for throwing stones at convoy of Jayalalithaa

RAMANATHAPURAM: Three persons have been arrested for throwing stones at the convoy of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at Pasumpon on Thursday.

Although the police are yet to ascertain the motive behind the attack, they have ruled out the involvement of pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam elements.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Friday, K.A. Senthil Velan, Superintendent of Police, said K. Sasikumar of Mandalamanickam (18), A. Mulli Arjunan of Mankulam in Virudhunagar district (29) and K. Velmurugan of Parapathi (20), have been taken into custody.

They were booked under the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Destruction) Act. The case sections would be changed depending upon the progress of the investigation.

Interrogation revealed that they had thrown stones. They told the investigation team that they were “irked” by police preventing them from seeing the former Chief Minister from a close range.

Mr. Velan said the investigation had revealed that it was not a planned attack. The attackers might have hurled bricks and other materials found near the memorial. He had been collecting video footages and photos to identify those involved in the incident. Several teams and intelligence officials had been sent to various places for picking up other suspects.

“The arrested persons have no party affiliation. There is no political motive behind the attack,” he said.

The SP said 15 persons owing allegiance to the Moovender Munnetra Kazhagam had been arrested for damaging several banners and posters put up along the road from Parthibanur to Pasumpon. All of them were from Mayiladuthurai. The situation in the district was normal. Most of the policemen have been sent back to their respective places, he said.

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3 held for throwing stones at convoy of Jayalalithaa

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