Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Attack on DPI convoy sparks violence

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE Oct. 6. Violence erupted in Vandavasi town in Tiruvannamalai district following pelting of stones on a car in the convoy of the Dalit Panthers of India leader, R. Tirumavalavan, at Sembur last night. Twenty persons — 10 each from the PMK and DPI — have been arrested in connection with the incident and the subsequent violence.

According to the police, Vimal Sundararaj, Tiruvannamalai district DPI secretary who was travelling by the last car in the convoy, was injured in the stone-throwing. Mr. Tirumavalavan was proceeding to Athipakkam to hoist the party's flag. The windscreen of the car was damaged.

On hearing the news of the attack, DPI supporters allegedly went on the rampage in Vandavasi town, where Mr. Tirumavalavan was to address a public meeting, and stoned three State-owned buses. The windscreens of the buses were damaged. They also ransacked a petrol station in Vandavasi.

Mr. Vimal Sundararaj was admitted to the government hospital in Chengalpattu.

The hoisting of the flag and the public meeting went off peacefully. Mr. Tirumavalavan later left for Chennai.

Balanagadevi, Superintendent of Police, Tiruvannamalai district, who is camping in Vandavasi, told The Hindu over telephone today that normality had been restored in the town where heavy police pickets had been posted. The identity of the culprits who ransacked the petrol station was yet to be ascertained. About 20 to 30 persons entered it and damaged and looted properties in the premises, according to a complaint from the owner.

Four cases had been registered in connection with the incidents and the arrested had been sent for judicial remand.

Our Cuddalore Staff Reporter reports:

The attack on the convoy sparked stone throwing on two State-owned buses in Villupuram this morning. According to police sources here, after forcing the passengers to disembark near Poothurai around 9 a.m., miscreants made a vain bid to set fire to the Pondicherry-Poothurai bus. Ten seats were damaged and the windscreen was smashed. Another bus was stoned at near Kilianoor around 10 a.m.

Our Madurai Staff Reporter reports:

DPI members staged a road blockade in Anna Nagar today, demanding arrest of those who ``attempted to assault Mr. Tirumavalavan.'' They also raised slogans against the PMK leader, Ramadoss. Traffic was affected for nearly half an hour.

Our Dharmapuri Staff Reporter reports:

There was widespread protest by DPI volunteers in the district today. In the wee hours, buses plying on the Krishnagiri-Pondicherry road were damaged. Similar attacks spread to Krishnagiri, Harur, Morappur, Kadathur and Mathur. At Krishnagiri, a gang armed with stones and wooden poles entered the bus stand and went on the rampage. Eleven buses, including seven State buses and an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus, were damaged.

A State-run bus, bound for Harur from Dharmapuri was stoned at at Ettipatti in Harur. Radha (48) of Egalampatti, who was injured severely, had been admitted in the Harur Government Hospital. At Pethur Road near Harur, a group dumped huge boulders on the road stalling movement of traffic. Bus services to all these areas remained suspended throughout the day.

Ramadoss behind attack: DPI

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

Squarely blaming the PMK for the violent incidents, Mr. Tirumavalavan, demanded that the Government take action against Dr. Ramadoss.

In a statement today, he charged that it was Dr. Ramadoss who instigated PMK volunteers to indulge in violence in which 20 DPI volunteers were injured. The police, he said, instead of taking action against PMK volunteers were arresting his party workers. He also demanded that the Government ban communal organisation conferences being organised by Dr. Ramadoss.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Film artists stick to Neyveli protest plan
• Samba too runs into rough weather
• `Bumpy road ahead of public sector banks'
• `Karnataka submission proves CM right'
• Ordinance on conversion pro-Hindutva: minorities
• Attack on DPI convoy sparks violence
• Land surrender: Jayalalithaa, Sasikalaa write to TANSI
• Unacceptable, says Chidambaram

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu