The alleged attack on Municipality officials who were carrying out a midnight crackdown on encroachments led to widespread protests on Monday.
Later in the day, the police acceded to the demand of protesting municipality staff and registered a case against estranged Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P.Kannan and his supporters’ who had allegedly roughed up officials, including the municipal commissioner.
In the morning, about 350 employees boycotted office and sat in protest in front of Kamban Kalai Arangam demanding the criminal action against Mr.Kannan and his supporters.
They alleged that he and his supporters had manhandled and intimidated the staffs including commissioner while they were removing encroachments on Bussy Street on Saturday midnight.
P.Anandha Ganapathy, member of the joint-action committee of Puducherry Municipality Staff Association said, “We demand an apology from the persons who indulged in the attack on the staff of municipality.” Following the registration of criminal case and assurance from the police, the staff suspended the strike in the evening.
In a separate agitation, cadres of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam led by its president Logu-Ayyappan picketed the office of Superintendent of Police(North) on Nehru Street demanding the arrest of Mr.Kannan and his supporters who allegedly attacked the municipal staffs while they were removing the illegal encroachment.
They also submitted a memorandum to the police superintendent seeking protection to municipality officials and staffs. Around 100-odd activists were removed from the place by the police later.
Based on a complaint from Veterinary Medical Officer K.Kumaran of the municipality, Odian Salai police opened a first information report (FIR) against Mr. Kannan and his supporters.
They were booked under Sections 353(Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty),294 (whoever, to the annoyance of others does any obscene act or sings or recites songs), 506 (I) (Criminal Intimidation) of India Penal Code and Section 3 of Prevention of Damages to Public Property Act.
Meanwhile, the Puducherry Municipality officials clarified that it had duly submitted a letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police on March 13 that it proposed to remove the cut-outs and banners in the jurisdiction of the Puducherry Municipality by the Engineering and Sanitary Wing at night so as to avoid disturbance to the traffic and public.
