Superintendent of Police M. Ravi Prakash said the police maintained restraint while taking Mr. Padmanabham into custody from his residence. In fact, the police behaved politely with the leader and his family members. The SP called a press conference to narrate the sequence of events. “Some miscreants joined the Kapu Aikya Garjana at Tuni on January 31 and resorted to torching the Ratnachal Express and the Tuni rural police station. They even torched police vehicles and attacked police personnel and presspersons. But, the police on duty kept their cool as they were keen on saving the train passengers and the general public,” Mr. Ravi Prakash recalled.
“We were forced to react swiftly as Mr. Padmanabham brandished a pesticide bottle,” he said. “As his supporters tried to stop us, a scuffle took place. But, our personnel did not behave rudely with anyone,” he explained.
The SP said prohibitory orders would be in force till June 30 and Section 30 of the Police Act would be continued for some more time.
