Hundreds of angry Dalits gathered at the Government Rajaji Hospital here on Sunday and raised slogans against the State government and the police for the firing on Dalits at Paramakudi in which five persons were killed.
Chaos prevailed at the hospital as the protesters raised slogans after six Dalit youths — Siva, 19, Paramasivam, 20, Senthil Murugan, 23, Chaturagiri, 22, Yaesu, 22, and Yogesh, 27, — who were injured in the Paramakudi firing and also at Chintamani in Madurai were brought to the GRH for further treatment.
Paramasivam had suffered a bullet injury on his head and is in a serious condition, according to hospital sources.
Two Dalits — Jayaprakash, 19, and Balakrishnan 19, — belonging to Pattam in Sivaganga district, were seriously injured in the police firing at Chintamani on the outskirts of Madurai.
Eyewitnesses said that they were travelling in an SUV sitting on top of the vehicle and when police intervened to stop them, they shouted against the police who shot at them.
Puthiya Tamilagam founder president and MLA K. Krishnasamy visited the hospital and met the injured youth.
Condemning the police firing as unwarranted, Dr. Krishnasamy demanded a thorough judicial enquiry and also said the firing could have been easily avoided by police. He said that he would raise the issue in the Assembly.
“I have been visiting Paramakudi for the last 22 years to pay respects to Immanuel Sekaran, but this time I was not able to go there as police prevented me at Parthibanallur and asked me not to visit the village as the situation was tense,” he said.
John Pandian's arrest was made following the violation of the ban order imposed by the Ramnathapuram Collector. It was a preventive arrest only, police sources said.
Tuticorin
In Tuticorin agitated over his arrest, some miscreants pelted stones at a vehicle at Vilathikulam. Seven persons were taken into police custody following the incident. Besides, some persons also intercepted a State-owned bus in Ottapidaram. Later, the driver was threatened not to ply further.
No untoward incident has been reported in Tirunelveli.
Theni
The police tightened security in Theni district in order to prevent any untoward incidents in the wake of police firing on Immanual Sekaran Memorial Day. The State and National Highways were brought under scrutiny and all checkposts were alerted. The police beefed up security at Kottur and Seelayampatti villages.
Dindigul
Security was tightened in Dindigul district also. Additional check posts were set up near Ammaianayakkanur on Madurai-Dindigul Highway, at Ghat Road near Batlagundu and on main road near Nilakottai .
A mishap
Meanwhile, grief gripped Sirunaickanur village near Ammaiyanaikkanur in the district as five supporters of Immanual Sekaran of this village were killed in a road accident near Samayanallur in Madurai district.
They were going to Paramakudi from their village to take part in the memorial day function.
