Outsiders banned from entering Keezhathooval on ‘Aivar Dhinam’

‘About 2,000 people visited the village disturbing communal amity last year’

After banning the use of hired vehicles on the death anniversary of Immanuel Sekaran on Wednesday, the district administration and the police banned visit of “outsiders” to Keezhathooval revenue village in Mudukulattur block to pay homage to those killed in the aftermath of Immanuel Sekaran’s murder on the occasion of “Aivar Dhinam’ on Saturday.

The decision to ban outsiders, community leaders and members of organisations and associations was taken in view of prohibitory orders clamped under Section 144 of the Cr.PC being in effect in the district to maintain social amity, Collector K. Nanthakumar said in a press release here on Friday.

Accordingly, only the people of Keezhathooval village and the legal heirs of the five deceased persons would be allowed to pay homage on the occasion, he said, adding the local people could install flex boards and make sound and light arrangements after obtaining guidelines from the local police station.

Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan said last year about 2,000 people visited the village disturbing public peace and communal amity. This year, actor Karunas, P.T.Arasakumar and other community leaders were expected to visit the village, but they would not be allowed, the SP said.\

Five arrested

Meanwhile, the police arrested M. Prambai Bala (38) of Ponnaiyapuram and Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) district secretary S. Kathiresan (42) in connection with the cases registered against Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader John Pandian and 14 others and PT leader K Krishnasamy and eight others for violating prohibitory orders during the death anniversary of Immanuel Sekaran. They were produced before a magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody, a police press release said.

The police also arrested three persons for going on two wheelers to pay homage to Immanuel Sekaran, violating the orders. The police have also registered cases against those who came in a procession, carrying five ‘Jyothis’ (torches) on that day, in violation of the orders, the release added.

Special teams have been formed to nab all those who are absconding and seize the vehicles involved in the cases, the release added.