Sheikalmudi police have arrested five men on charges of assaulting a Forest Department official during a vehicle check near Sholayar dam in the early hours of Monday.
M. Abdulwahab (45), M. Sivaraman (49), M. Shabu (31), N. Kumar (49) and M. Shibu (45), all hailing from Seetharkundu estate in Palakkad, were arrested.
Police said that the car travelled by the five men were stopped by Forest Department staff at Malakkappara check post in Tamil Nadu side along Kerala border around 3 a.m.
The staff were asked to have tight checking at the check post in view of the Maoist encounter in Palakkad district and intelligence reports that a few irregulars had escaped from the place.
According to police, the men voluntarily picked a quarrel with Forest Guard S. Sabari Arokiaraj (55) at the check post. They also allegedly assaulted him.
The five persons were remanded in judicial custody.
Action sought
Sakthisena Hindu Makkal Iyakkam on Tuesday submitted a petition at the office of Combatore City Police Commissioner seeking action against May 17 Movement coordinator Thirumurugan Gandhi for remarks on the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya land dispute in an interview.
M. Sekar, district general secretary of the political organisation, alleged in the complaint that Mr. Gandhi’s interview given to a media on November 9 had statements that would trigger communal tension among the Hindus and Muslims. The organisation wanted police to arrest Mr. Gandhi.
