PMK men caned in Ariyalur; 15 injured

ARIYALUR: A group of PMK cadre intercepted the police van taking Vanniar Sangam leader Kaduvetti Guru while the vehicle was coming out of the Ariyalur court complex here on Monday.A clash erupted between the police and the cadre, followed by a lathicharge by the police that resulted in injury to 15 persons, including four women.The cadre had reportedly sought to know where Guru was being taken and when the police gave evasive replies, the PMK men squatted before the police van and resorted to an agitation.Among the persons who sustained injuries in the lathicharge were PMK functionaries Raja Kannan (28) and PMK women's district secretary Kamala (35).Kamala, who sustained severe head injury, was sent to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for treatment. Fearing further outbursts, all shops in the town downed their shutters.Earlier, Ariyalur judicial magistrate Vijayarani granted police custody of Guru for two days in connection with the investigation of a case relating to the hurling of bomb at the house of PMK State Magalirani’s former secretary Selvi.Guru was taken to Karur late in the night. Tight security was imposed in select areas of the town following the entry of Guru into the town. Besides officials of Perambalur and Ariyalur police, central zone top officials are also expected to conduct investigations.Guru's advocates have been permitted by the court to stay with him for a couple of hours daily during the investigations.In Chennai, PMK founder Dr Ramadoss, reacting to the lathicharge on PMK cadre said: “The minority DMK government will fall soon. No government committing such atrocities would last for long. The days of the DMK government are numbered.”In Vellore, PMK party men observed hunger protest at Nemili and Walajapet against the arrest of Guru. Condemning the State Government for his arrest, the protesters demanded the government to release him without any pre-condition.While town secretary of PMK Rajendran led the protest at Walajapet, district secretary of the party, N Krishnan led the protest in Nemili block. Arcot MLA K L Elavazhagan, who inaugurated the protests at Walajapet also took part in the protest.In Cuddalore, Vanniar Sangam activists observed a day's fast in front of the Collectorate demanding Guru’s release. Meanwhile, all night bus services of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Villupuram division) have been suspended from Monday.Official sources said a transport corporation bus proceeding from Chennai to Kumbakonam was stopped by a gang at Konjikuppam village near Neyveli here on Sunday night. The gang tried to set the bus on fire but was dissuaded by passengers, the sources said. They then damaged the windscreen and deflated the tyres.All night bus services in Cuddalore district have also been suspended.