Members of various Hindu outfits who gathered in large numbers on DB Road in R.S. Puram on Tuesday ignoring denial of police permission to pay homage to the victims of the serial blasts were removed by the police. More than 400 activists, who came in two batches, were removed.
As a matter of precaution, the entire R.S. Puram area was sterilised and traffic was diverted. Many establishments on DB Road remained closed. The police had earlier announced that those assembling despite denial of permission would be arrested and cases registered against them.
Members of various organisations such as Indu Makkal Katchi (Tamilagam), Hanuman Sena, Shiv Sena, Bharat Sena, Vivekanandar Narpani Mandram were prevented by the police when they tried to perform pushpanjali on DB Road near KRS Bakery where one of the blasts claimed many lives on February 14, 1998 .
The agitators flayed the denial of police permission to pay homage to those killed in serial blasts. They also demanded to erect a memorial pillar at DB Road Junction in memory of those who lost their lives. The activist vowed to carry on with this agitation till the pillar comes in place.
After some time, organisations such as Bharathiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Munnani, Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, Akhil Bharathia Vidyarthi Parishad and Bharatia Mazdoor Sangh came in large numbers to perform deepanjali. .
Nearly 1,000 policemen were posted to ensure bandobust. In addition, vehicle checks and lodge checks were stepped up since Monday night, besides armed pickets at sensitive pockets, said T.P. Sundaramoorthy, Commissioner of Police – Coimbatore City.
At Perur some of the hindu outfit activists tonsured their heads and performed memorial rituals on the banks of River Noyyal in memory of blasts victims. At Mettuppalayam, the BJP and other Hindu outfits paid floral tributes to seven persons from the town, who were killed in the blasts at Coimbatore.
The police had even denied permission for a demonstration planned by Tamil Nadu Towheeth Jamaath demanding enhancement of reservation for minority community members.
