Rajiv Gandhi statues vandalised in Chennai

February 27, 2014 06:30 pm | Updated May 18, 2016 11:10 am IST - Chennai

The damaged statue of Rajiv Gandhi covered with a piece of cloth in Perambur on Thursday. Photo: G. Sribharath

The damaged statue of Rajiv Gandhi covered with a piece of cloth in Perambur on Thursday. Photo: G. Sribharath

A day after the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee headquarters here was attacked by pro-Sri Lankan Tamil groups, three busts of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in different locations were desecrated by miscreants in the wee hours of Thursday.

In a related incident, a petrol bomb was hurled at the office of Seeman, leader of Naam Tamilar Katchi, in Porur. But it failed to explode.

Police sources said one bust at Purasaiwakam and two on Barracks Road in Perambur were found vandalised by the public. As the news spread, a contingent of 65 Congressmen squatted on the Barracks Road demanding action against the miscreants. They were taken into custody. Members of the Youth Congress tried to besiege the office of the Director-General of Police here. They met DGP K. Ramanujam and handed over a petition seeking stringent action.

Meanwhile, police sources said K. Veeralakshmi and six others of Tamilar Munnetra Padai were held in connection with the Wednesday attack on Sathyamurthy Bhavan.

PTI adds:

Tension prevailed in Vepery, Oteri and Perambur localities where statues of the former Prime Minister were found damaged on Thursday, a day after members of a Tamil outfit clashed with Congressmen.

While local party workers held protests, a peeved TNCC president B S Gnanadesikan said “anti-social organisations” which indulge in violence should be banned, adding his party would press the state government for this.

“We will submit a memorandum to the Governor seeking his intervention on this issue,” he said.

Cases under several sections of the IPC including attempt to murder and rioting were slapped on the seven, who had tried to storm the Congress office to condemn the Centre’s stand in opposing the state government’s decision to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Some persons were injured when stones were pelted by some unidentified persons during the protest.

Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram this morning met Congress worker Sarvanan, who is undergoing treatment at Royapettah hospital for injuries suffered in the clash.

Petrol bombs hurled at the office of Tamil outfit

In a related incident, miscreants allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at the office of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) at Porur here. However,none was injured in the incident.

NTK had also staged protest outside TNCC office on Wednesday.

The Youth Congress wing staged a demonstration outside DGP’s office here demanding action against persons involved in yesterday’s clashes.

It submitted a memorandum to police seeking action against those involved in yesterday’s incident besides others such as attack on former party MP R Prabhu’s office in Coimbatore.

It demanded adequate security to Rajiv Gandhi statues.

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