The Hindu : Faux pas by police at Cuddalore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Faux pas by police at Cuddalore

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE July 7. A group of CPI activists, who staged a demonstration in front of the Jawans' Bhavan here today, were mistakenly arrested by the police.

The party members were protesting the "false cases foisted against its State secretary, R. Nallakannu," when 25 of them were rounded up to be detained in Periyanayagi Kalyana Mandapam.

This despite the permission granted to the party for staging the demonstration.

After the party leaders pointed out the lapses, the police released the arrested after a couple of hours.

The party district executive committee member, K.S. Sambandam, told The Hindu that he had obtained permission on July 3 for the demonstration.

When the partymen assembled today in front of the Jawans' Bhavan here, they were surrounded by the police and taken into custody by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Muthaiah.

Mr. Sambandam took up the matter with the Superintendent of Police, Rajiv Kumar, and following the latter's direction, all the detained partymen were released.

Those who participated in the demonstration included the deputy secretary, E. Balakrishnan, the district secretary of the construction workers' wing, S.K. Visvanathan, and the AITUC district president, M. Mariappan.

CPI(M) members arrested

The police seemed to have got it mixed up with an agitation staged here by the CPI(M) against the arrest of government employees and teachers under the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

The CPI(M) men went ahead with their agitation without the police permission, and 203 activists were arrested.

Similar protests were held at Panrutti, Kurinjipadi, Chidambaram, Vriddhachalam, and Pennadam.

The party district secretary, S. Dhanasekaran, said it was unheard of in the history of Tamil Nadu that the Government had dismissed its employees en masse. When the employees and teachers were demanding their rights in a democratic manner, the police were unleashing repressive measures to stifle their voice.

All the arrested should be released and their dismissal revoked, he said.

Those who participated in the agitation included the members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, the Farm Labourers' Association and the All-India Democratic Women's Association.

They were released late in the evening.

Our Vellore Staff Reporter reports:

Seventyone persons, belonging to the labour, agricultural, women's and student's organisations affiliated to the CPI(M), were taken into preventive custody in Vellore district when they attempted to stage demonstrations in front of government and local body offices.

Fourteen were arrested when they tried to organise a demonstration in front of the municipal office in Vellore.

Fifteen were arrested in Ranipet, 13 each in Walajapet and Arcot and 16 in Bagayam. They were released in the evening.

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

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Massive recruitment drive begins

Midnight arrests a serious violation: HC

After several years of wait, a govt. job now

`Dismissals cannot be challenged before Administrative Tribunal'

Gopal's father-in-law commits suicide

Faux pas by police at Cuddalore

Selection of Senate nominee for VC search panel opposed

Approach Cauvery tribunal: ryots

Two more defamation cases against The Hindu

Get ready for simultaneous poll, says Stalin

`End unconstitutional acts of Tamil Nadu Govt.'

Bail for 3 employees in Coimbatore