The district police have registered a First Information Report against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Ramanathapuram Assembly constituency Durai Kannan and other party men for raising “provocative slogans” while canvassing for votes in Muslim- dominated Periyapattinam area on Sunday night.
A group of people who had assembled in front of a place of worship in Periyapattinam attacked the BJP candidate’s convoy and pelted stones at the BJP volunteers on Sunday night, when Mr. Durai Kannan visited the area along with his supporters to canvass for votes.
A day after BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao condemned the attack and alleged that the incident indicated rise in ‘Jihadi terrorism’ in Tamil Nadu, the police said trouble broke out in the area after the BJP volunteers raised slogans while passing through a place of worship.
When they raised “provocative slogans”, those who had assembled there objected to it, and suggested that they could seek votes without raising such slogans.
After a melee, the local people pelted stones at the BJP volunteers and allegedly tore the banners tied in their propaganda van, the police said.
On a complaint lodged by Mr. Durai Kannan, the police registered a case against the attackers under Sections 147 (unlawful assembly) 153 (A) (1) (b) (promoting enmity between two groups on grounds of religion), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property and Prevention of Damage and Loss Act and arrested one Nawaz Khan.
Later, on a complaint lodged by S. Ansari, general secretary of the local Jamath, the police registered an FIR against Mr. Durai Kannan, and party office-bearers Ramachandran, C. Lingaraj, I. Prabhu and others under Sections 147, 153 (A) (1) (b) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by the government servant) of the Indian Penal Code, the police said.
Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan said the situation was brought under control soon by a police team which accompanied the candidate. As they anticipated trouble during campaigning, police protection had been provided to AIADMK, DMK, DMDK-PWF-TMC and BJP candidates in all the four Assembly segments in the district.
Police teams, each headed by an Inspector of Police and comprising a police videographer, would accompany the candidates throughout the day, he added.
