Massive anti-IPL protests by pro-Tamil groups erupted here today with scores of activists including film directors being detained even as police chased away agitators in some places. One incident of protesters burning yellow jerseys, the attire of Chennai Super Kings players, was witnessed.
Pro-Tamil groups like Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) and a newly launched forum of Tamil directors had given a boycott call of the popular Indian Premier League. They alleged that the game was being organised to divert attention from the raging Cauvery protests across the state.
Hundreds of activists of outfits like TVK, Naam Tamizhar and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), besides some Muslim groups, staged road blockade at the arterial Anna Salai and TTK Salai, affecting traffic movement, police said.
The agitations especially affected vehicular traffic on the busy Anna Salai, resulting in traffic snarls.
Protesters being arrested and taken away by the police near Triplicane police station in Chennai on April 10, 2018.
Protests were also held at Triplicane, in the vicinity of the stadium, by some outfits including VCK but police foiled their bid to march towards the venue and detained them.
Earlier in the day, activists of TVK who tried to stage a demonstration outside the stadium were held.
Police personnel try to restrain protesters from shouting slogans inside the M.A. Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on April 10, 2018.
Deepu Sebastian tweets:
Match interrupted briefly at the end of over 7 when a pair of shoes were flung from the top tier of Stand F. Protesters unfurled flags of the Naam Tamilar Katchi.
A photographer of The Hindu saw four protesters being detained after the shoe-throwing incident.
A worker picks up a shoe thrown inside the stadium near the boundary as Ravindra Jadeja looks on at the M.A.C. Stadium in Chennai on April 10, 2018.
No signs of protest inside the stadium. Fans changing into yellow T-shirts inside the stadium, reports our correspondent Deepu Sebastian .
CSK ‘super fan’ Saravanan and other spectators inside the M.A. Chidambaram stadium at Chepauk in Chennai on April 10, 2018.
Our correspondent T.K. Rohit adds: Just as the protests were dying down, at least two incidents were seen where fans approaching the stadium were waylaid by some protesters and were forced to remove their CSK jerseys. A couple of youngsters who were entering Wallajah Road were stopped by protesters and forcefully checked for tickets. One of them was thrashed by the protesters.
Once the protesters were arrested and taken away, supporters turned up to watch the match. A good number of women and children too turned up.
As the match began and the roads cleared, the stands started filling up, though not to full capacity.
Supporters changed into CSK jerseys once inside the stadium. Many of them bought t-shirts outside the stadium before entering. Protesters forced some supporters of CSK to remove their T-shirts in the evening during the protests forcing many to buy the shirts outside the stadium after police cleared the protesters.
“We Want Cauvery Management Board” ribbons are being distributed outside the stadium, reports our correspondent Deepu Sebastian.
Protesters lathi charged
R. Sivaraman reports: Tension prevailed on Wallajah Road, which leads to the stadium. Activists of Naam Thamizhar Katchi and Manitha Neya Jananayaga Katchi were lathi-charged around 6 p.m. as they tried to break a police cordon. Some of them were injured and the agitators squatted on Walajah Road.
Naam Thamizhar Katchi leader Seeman, SDPI leaders, MLAs Thamim Ansari, U. Thaniarasu and Karunas, and Tamilnadu Farmers Federation president P.R. Pandian led the procession after they broke the police cordon near Anna Salai.
Film directors Bharathiraja, Seeman, Ameer, Ram, Vetrimaran and Mr. Ansari have been detained.
Our correspondent Vivek Narayanan adds: Protesters are being arrested and taken away by police near the Triplicane police station.
Members of Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi stage a protest on April 10, 2018, outside the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, ahead of a Indian Premier League cricket match, over the Cauvery water issue.
Rajeev Shukla speaks to Home Secretary
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla sought the intervention of the Centre for the smooth conduct of the Chennai Super Kings matches, news agency PTI reported. Mr. Shukla met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and requested him to ensure security arrangements for uninterrupted hosting of the matches.
“I met the Union Home Secretary [Rajiv Gauba] requesting him to ensure that IPL matches in Chennai are conducted smoothly. The Home Secretary spoke to DGP (Tamil Nadu) and asked him to ensure that there are no security issues for the fans,” Mr. Shukla, who is also a Congress leader and senior BCCI official told PTI.
Mr. Gauba assured the IPL chairman that foolproof security would be provided for all the matches in Chennai, a Home Ministry official said.
150 arrested near Chepauk area
R. Sivaraman reports: The police arrested around 150 members of the VCK after they gathered near Bells Roundabout 3 p.m. In addition, 10 members of the TVK were arrested when they attempted to enter the stadium.
Around 30 activists of the TVK gathered near Ellis Road with black balloons, but police surrounded them, not allowing them to raise them. Around 15 members squatted on the Walajah Road. Police evicted them and bundled them into a police van.
Cadres of the SDPI suddenly descended on Anna Salai, holding flags and placards, leaving the police unable to control the crowd.
Director Bharathiraja and poet Vairamuthu also joined the protesters.
Protests erupt in Alwarpet
Tamilaga Ezhuchi Iyakkam staging a demonstration on T.T.K. Road
Tamilaga Ezhuchi Iyakkam staging a demonstration on T.T.K. Road
Members of the TEI staged protests in the route the cricket players are scheduled to take to head to the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. They protested along T.T.K Road and the R.K. Salai junction.
Threats to disrupt IPL
The protests come within a week after TVK leader T. Velmurugan threatened to disrupt the IPL match and ‘capture’ the IPL players. On Tuesday, party cadres alighted from Chepauk MRTS railway station and tried to enter the stadium through the main gate with black flags. Police personnel stopped them and took them into custody, R. Sivaraman reports.
Elaborate security
Following a boycott call by several political parties and fringe groups over the Cauvery water dispute, the police had tightened security around the stadium, our correspondent R. Sivaraman reports.
Under the direct supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police M.C.Sarangan, three joint commissioners and 13 deputy police commissioners, elaborate security was provided to the venue and the hotels where the players are staying.
Over 4,000 police personnel, including city police, armed reserve and elite commando groups, were deployed at the two places on Tuesday morning.
"We have taken all measures to maintain law and order and ensure the match is held in a peaceful manner. The spectators will be allowed inside the stadium only after thorough frisking," a senior police official said.
