From attempting ‘anga pradakshinam’ to staging rail roko, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members and cadres of supporting organisations in Coimbatore resorted to various forms of protest on Wednesday to condemn the arrest of the party’s general secretary Jayalalithaa and demanded her immediate release.
In Gandhipuram, members of the various wings of the AIADMK’s trade wing Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai (ATP) observed a fast.
Member of Legislative Assembly, Mettupalayam, and the District Secretary, ATP, O.K. Chinnaraj led the fast, which, according to the Coimbatore City Police, saw 2,500 men and 200 women participate.
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An AIADMK member said that members from the transport, autorickshaw drivers, mill workers, loadmen, TASMAC workers, Tangedco employees, traders, hawkers, goldsmiths, and other associations participated in the protest.
N. Karuppasamy, District Secretary, ATP, Leelavathi Unni, Deputy Mayor, Coimbatore, A. Abdul Jabbar, former head of the transport wing, and others took part.
In Perur, nine party men chose different methods: they attempted ‘anga pradakshinam’ near the Perur Patteeswarar Temple, which was prevented by the Coimbatore Rural Police. The police held the nine persons, led by auto rickshaw driver Prakash.
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In support of the AIADMK leader, the members of the Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaingar Peravai attempted to stage a rail roko.
When they neared the Coimbatore Railway Junction, the Coimbatore City Police prevented them from marching forward and removed them from the place. The police said that they had removed 84 members, who were led by their District president Paramasivam. In P.N. Pudur in R.S. Puram Police station limits, 25 students of the Government Law College observed a fast demanding the release of Ms. Jayalalithaa.
In the Coimbatore Rural Police jurisdiction, the AIADMK cadre staged protests in Anamalai, Chettipalayam, Aliyar, Vadavalli, Gomangalam and Mettupalayam. Vadavalli saw the maximum participation of 500 persons.
In a related development, Muslim supporters of the AIADMK had decided to offer special prayers on Friday at the mosque on Mettupalayam Road, near the Flower Market. The representatives of more than 40 mosques in the district had a special meeting in this regard on Wednesday.