Congress, VCK activists clash in Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY: Activists of the Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) clashed on Monday after a statue of Rajiv Gandhi at the Chain Factory junction was vandalised.

Police dispersed the groups, which clashed near the Venkata Subba Reddiar statue on Maraimalai Adigal Salai, and arrested 13 persons belonging to the VCK and 11 from the Congress.

Police officers said that a case was registered for “dishonouring” the statue under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code for “creating a malignant act wantonly to cause rioting”.

The statue was found with an effigy of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa with chappals and broomstick hung on it.

Police personnel have been posted near important statues in various parts of Puducherry.

President of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee, A.V. Subramanian, condemned the act. He said to protect the lives of Tamils in Sri Lanka, the Centre, in consultation with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, had sent the Foreign Secretary to Sri Lanka for talks. Violence had erupted in various parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the last few days, in which buses were damaged.

Several Congress workers were injured in the clash and admitted to hospital, Mr. Subramanian said. He urged police to act against those who indulged in violence and prevent such incidents.

Later, at a press meet, representatives of the VCK, the All India Forward Bloc and the Federation for People’s Rights condemned the arrest of VCK activists, including organising secretary S. Pavanan, and demanded their immediate release.

They denied the role of the VCK in the act and urged the government to order a CBI enquiry. They would submit a complaint to the Orleanpet police station demanding the arrest of Congress workers for speaking ill of Ambedkar and Thol. Thirumavalavan.

191 arrested


Special Correspondent from Cuddalore writes:

The police have arrested 191 persons in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts in connection with damage to State-run buses in the past few days. The police said a total of 42 cases, including 35 for stone throwing, four for bus-burning and three for road roko, have been booked against them.

Staff Reporter from Coimbatore writes:

Two VCK activists were arrested on Monday while two others surrendered at the Race Course police station in connection with stoning of buses.

Stray incidents of violence were reported ever since Mr. Thirumavalavan began his fast in Chennai demanding the Centre’s intervention in Sri Lanka. On Saturday night, a few buses were stoned at the Sungam Junction here.

The police arrested B. Mohammed Ali of Kuniamuthur (28) and A. Abudaheer (29) for damaging a bus at Kuniamuthur on Sunday. K. Selvam alias Viduthalai Selvam (49) of Ramanathapuram and M. Balasingam (26) of New Sidhapudur surrendered before the Race Course police. They have all been remanded to judicial custody.