While condemning the police firing in Ramanathapuram district in which five persons were killed, leaders of political parties on Sunday demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and another firing in Madurai.
They also sought an increase in the amount of the solatium given to the families of the deceased.
Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko and CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said a sitting judge of the Madras High Court should conduct the inquiry.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi MLA M.H. Jawahirullah, representing Ramanathapuram Assembly Constituency, said violence could have been averted if the police had arrested those who were responsible for the murder of the boy Palanikumar a few days ago.
He described as “unfortunate” the police firing and said the police excess also should not be allowed to go unpunished.
Dr. Ramadoss said if his demand for organising the death anniversary of Immanuvel Pandian, a Dalit leader, as an official event, had been heeded to, more security arrangements would have been made which, in turn, would have prevented the occurrence of violence.
Stressing that the damage to public property could not be accepted, Mr. Vaiko appealed to the people in the southern parts of the State to maintain peace in the interest of women, children and old people.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said the government should take steps that would restore the people's confidence and arrest those who were behind the murder of Palanikumar.
CPI State secretary D. Pandian said the government should ensure that this incident would not lead to communal violence in other southern districts.
