City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali on Tuesday ordered the detention of Dravidar Vidhuthalai Kazhagam founder-president Kolathur S. Mani under the National Security Act. Mr. Mani is in remand at the Salem Central Prison in connection with the attack on the Income-Tax office at Hasthampatti on October 30. DVK activists have been demanding that India should not participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.
On Tuesday, the DVK placed under suspension seven of its cadres who were allegedly involved in the attacks on Central Government establishments in Chennai and Salem, State general secretary of the DVK “Viduthalai” Rajendran told presspersons here on Tuesday after chairing an executive committee meeting of the organisation.
Mr. Rajendran said four of them were allegedly involved in the attacks in Chennai and were booked under the National Security Act. The three others were arrested in Salem, along with the founder-president of the DVK “Kolathur” Mani, on charges for attacking the Income Tax office here. “It is only preliminary action against them. The party does not entertain violence. These attacks were carried out without the knowledge of the DVK leaders”, he said.
Mr. Rajendran added that the party's disciplinary committee would conduct an inquiry with the arrested persons after they were released. “The suspension will be revoked if they were proved innocent. Failure to prove their innocence will result in removal from primary membership”, he said.
Mr. Rajendran, however, said the DVK condemned the arrest of Mr. Mani as he was not connected with the attacks in Chennai and Salem.
The DVK would not stage demonstrations against the Government of Tamil Nadu for the arrest of Mr. Mani. “Our protest is against the Government of India. We are in support of the resolution passed by the Government of Tamil Nadu in the Assembly, urging the Union Government to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka”.
