— Photo: Special Arrangement

IN THE DOCK: K. Dhanasekaran being produced in Saidapet court .

CHENNAI: The city police have arrested a councillor in connection with the case relating to the death of 42 persons in a stampede at a relief token distribution centre at MGR Nagar on Sunday.

Dhanasekaran (48) of K.K. Nagar, DMK councillor of ward number 130, was arrested from Thirupathy Nagar at Ramavaram near here on Tuesday.

He was produced before XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, S. Umamaheswari, around 5.30 p.m. and remanded to judicial custody till January 3.

According to the police, on a complaint preferred by Revenue Inspector Munisami, an enquiry was held.

It revealed that Mr. Dhanasekaran and others allegedly spread rumours and were responsible for the tragedy.

A senior police officer said early on Sunday, Mr. Dhanasekaran, along with a few others, went round the streets in MGR Nagar announcing that Sunday was the last day for receiving flood relief tokens and that the distribution would start at 5 a.m.

Believing him, a crowd began to gather in front of the distribution centre. A hunt was on for Senthil and a few others.

Case registered

The MGR Nagar police have registered a case under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (punishment for rioting), 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 109 (punishment of abetment), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 325 (punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of the IPC.

Complains to court

Mr. Dhanasekaran told the court that the police took him away at 9 p.m. on Monday. He was taken to Pallikaranai and Velachery and not told the reason for his detention.

The police obtained his signature on three blank papers. He was a heart patient and required treatment.

The court told Dhanasekaran the grounds of his arrest.

His counsel sought `A' class facility for him in prison.

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