A group of activists and scholars under the banner ‘Right to Dissent Forum’ were taken into preventive custody by police on Monday when they attempted to take out a procession.
Around 100 activists comprising of writers, social activists and scholarsassembled near Gandhi Statue on Marina Beach when the Gandhi Jayanthi celebration organised by the State government was on. A few of them were clad in black and reportedly tried to move forward in a procession holding placards stating: “Those (who) killed Gandhi (also) killed Gauri Too”. Police asked them to disperse since processions were not permitted on the Marina.
“It is not a protest. We want to go and garland the Gandhi statue. They said we can’t carry banners. They refused to let us go and garland the statue,” said V.Geetha, one of the participants. Writers Manusuyaputhran, A.Mangai and V.Arasu are notable among the protesters.
Police officials agreed to let them to go one by one to garland the statue but the protesters were stubborn that they would raise slogans.
“The Marina is not a place for any protest, procession or demonstration. We prohibited such acts in order to maintain peace here. If they want to stage protest in peaceful manner, there can do so in designated places in the city after obtaining due permission from police,” said a senior police. The activists were forcefully removed. They were detained till 6 p.m in a wedding hall and released.