The Race Course police on Thursday arrested a 32-year-old man for seeking alms to collect money and send it to the State Government. The man claimed that he wanted to send money to the government so that freebies for government school students could reach them.
The activist, K. Manivannan of M.K. Palayam in Kinathukadavu, said school students had been affected by delay in distributing freebies. “Last year, some students did not get freebies throughout the year. Now a month has already gone this academic year and students are yet to get free bags, slippers and notes,” he said.
Manivannan quoted Education department and district administrative officials as saying that the government was running short of funds and hence the delay in the distribution of freebies. He claimed that it was for this reason he wanted to help the government by seeking alms.
On Thursday, he collected Rs. 304 from people near the Collectorate, including alm seekers. He wanted to send it to the government through the Collector.
He was booked under Sections 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 505(i)(b) (punishment for functioning against government) of the Indian Penal Code.
He was produced before the Judicial Magistrate-III and lodged in jail under judicial custody for 15 days.
