The demonstration of youth wing members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) abruptly ended here on Wednesday when a portion of the stage collapsed, causing simple injuries to some of the cadres.
The demonstration was organised near the Tallakulam post office junction to condemn the AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa for allegedly neglecting court hearing in the wealth case against her. A large number of cadres had assembled from various parts of the city. Traffic police diverted vehicular movement at a couple of stretches since 9.30 a.m. The demonstration, which commenced at around 9.45 a.m., went on for about 45 minutes. Even as momentum was gathering, the members on the dais joined in shouting slogans against Ms. Jayalalithaa. The crowd marched towards the stage causing commotion all around. Suddenly, when the portion of the stage collapsed, panic prevailed for sometime.
Though the city and urban district leaders managed to come out without any injuries, some functionaries, including Mayor G. Thenmozhi, suffered minor bruises.
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A speaker announced that the demonstration was over.
Police regulated the crowd and for about an hour there was traffic jam all over the city, particularly around Goripalayam Thevar Statue junction, Tallakulam, Palam Station Road and Yanaikkal.
Earlier, in their brief address, the DMK functionaries, including former Minister Pon. Ponmuthuramalingam, took a dig at the AIADMK leader for her “disrespect” to the judiciary.
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