Eighteen members of Makkal Kalai Ilakiya Kazhagam were arrested when they attempted to show black flags to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during her visit to the city on Thursday in protest against the government action on anti-nuclear protestors in Kudankulam.
The incident took place near TVS Tollgate minutes before Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s convoy was to pass through the road junction en route to Srirangam from the airport.
Police sources said a group of members belonging to the outfit assembled at Usman Ali Street, a few metres from the TVS tollgate junction in and around which a posse of police personnel were deployed for bandobust duty, and raised slogans against the Chief Minister over the Kudankulam incidents.
Slogans
They were said to be holding black pieces of clothes while raising slogans. Police personnel arrested the protesters, including seven women, and took away the black clothes.
The protestors were led by the outfit’s district secretary Srinivasan. The Cantonment Police have registered a case in this connection.
An auto rickshaw and a two-wheeler besides notices used by the protesters were also seized.
The arrested were booked Sections 500 (defamation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 143 (unlawful assembly) of Indian Penal Code and later remanded in judicial custody.
