The Hindu : Oulgaret Commissioner injured in attack

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Oulgaret Commissioner injured in attack

By Our Staff Reporter

Workers of the Oulgaret municipality staging a protest on the Pondicherry-Villianoor road on Monday. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

Pondicherry June 30. A group of persons, said to be hailing from Dharmapuri village near here, today assaulted the Oulgaret Municipal Commissioner, K. Nagalingam, in his office after he reportedly refused to attest a copy of a birth certificate.

Mr. Nagalingam, who sustained bleeding injuries in the lip and a swelling in the forehead, was immediately taken to a hospital by a police official.

The workers and employees of the municipality at Jawahar Nagar squatted on the Pondicherry-Villianoor route, demanding action against culprits. Police rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. The traffic on the busy thoroughfare was diverted. The local BJP legislator, A.M. Krishnamoorthy, and the PMK convener, N.G. Panneerselvam, also joined the protest.

Mr. Krishnamoorthy said the municipality was ahead of other civic bodies in discharging its work and the Commissioner was a most cordial officer.

The president of the SC Employees Federation, Radha, also condemned the attack and wanted stern action against the culprits. The Additional District Magistrate, G. Ragesh Chandra, rushed to the site and pacified the workers. He promised that stern action would be taken against the attackers, and said protection would be given to officials. After his assurance, the agitators called off road roko.

Although the employees claimed that four persons had come to the office and assaulted the Commissioner, police sources said only two were involved and one of them Prathaban was arrested immediately. The other person Rajendran was said to be at large.

Some of the workers told the higher officials that the assailants had come on Friday and again approached the officer today. The Director of the Local Administration, Jayaraj, the Commissioner of Pondicherry Municipality, Alphonse, the Superintendent of Police, Muthiah, and host of officials visited the spot.

The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, who convened an urgent meeting with the officials, told newsmen later that he had asked them to register cases for follow-up action.

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