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Hundreds of Congress workers arrested for blocking traffic

Tamil Nadu Bureau

PDK, VCK workers burn effigies of Congress leaders, target Satyamurthi Bhavan

— Photo: Special Arrangement

STRIDENT PROTEST: Congress workers, led by TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu, holding a demonstration on the Theni-Dindigul highway on Saturday, condemning the attack on Satyamurthi Bhavan in Chennai.

CHENNAI/THENI: Hundreds of Congress workers, including the party’s State president K.V. Thangkabalu, were taken into custody in different parts of the State on Saturday, when they blocked roads to condemn the burning of effigies of Congress leaders and the throwing of stones at the party headquarters Satyamurthi Bhavan in Chennai, allegedly by workers of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

Those arrested included J.M. Aaron, MP, and State Youth Congress president Mayura Jayakumar.

Trouble started in Chennai, when members of the PDK and the VCK allegedly threw stones at Satyamurthi Bhavan and attacked a few Congress functionaries on two different occasions. They also burnt effigies of Congress leaders. When Congress workers objected, a scuffle followed. Three Congress workers were injured. The police arrested 68 persons, including six VCK workers.

Later, Congress leaders met Commissioner of Police K. Radhakrishnan and submitted a petition, demanding action against those responsible for the attack.

At Theni, tension mounted after the sudden picketing of Theni town police station by Congress workers. Banners put up by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi were damaged in some places. Some Congress workers tore up a VCK banner and attempted to set it on fire. The police thwarted the attempt.

A group of VCK workers took out a rally, condemning the damage to the party banners and presented a petition to the town police, demanding action against those responsible.

Earlier, a resolution condemning the Satyamurthy Bhavan incident was passed at a meeting of Congress workers.

In Madurai, more than 150 Congress workers blocked traffic near the Kattabomman statue. At Dindigul, more than 100 workers were taken into custody when they attempted to block traffic to condemn the Satyamurthy Bhavan incident.

At Palani, 100 volunteers were arrested when they blocked traffic to protest the damage to Congress flags at some places. At Palayamkottai, Congress workers were taken into custody for blocking Thiruvananthapuram High Road. All the arrested were released in the evening.

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