Twelve members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing were arrested on Thursday night for burning the flag of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) while holding a protest.
The Grand Baazar Police have arrested the cadres under section 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups), 143 (unlawful assembly) and 34 (d) (penalty for lighting bonfire in public places) of Pondicherry Police Act read with 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of Indian Penal Code.
They have been charged with non-bailable offences, the police said.
The arrested persons have been remanded in judicial custody for 15 days, said a police official.
It was a sequel to the events that unfolded late on Thursday night which gave the police some tense moments.
The youth wing cadre after holding a demonstration on Rangapillai Street against CPI(M) for its accusation that the BJP was responsible for the death of a research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, burnt the effigy of the Left party. They shouted slogans against the CPI(M) for the murder of the BJP and RSS workers in Kerala. A party flag of the CPI(M) was set on fire during the stir.
Soon after the incident, CPI(M) cadre staged a protest near Raja Theatre and sought the arrest of those involved in burning their flag.
A short while later the same night, the police picked up 12 youth wing activists for burning the flag.
Agitated over the arrest, the BJP cadre, led by party president V. Saminathan, picketed Grand Bazaar Station demanding the release of the arrested persons. The agitation went on till around 2 a.m. on Friday, the police said.
CM’s stand
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said he would not tolerate any violence as his government’s top priority was to maintain law and order.
He was speaking to a delegation of CPI(M) leaders who met him on Friday demanding stern action against BJP cadre for indulging in violence.
Mr. Narayanasamy said burning the party flag was a serious offence and he had instructed the police to take action against the culprits.
The CPI(M) leaders said ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, their cadres had become intolerant.
Mr. Saminathan told The Hindu that the police had included non-bailable sections as per the directions of the government. It was for the first time that the police had registered a case under non-bailable sections for staging an agitation.
Last year, the CPI(M) cadre during an agitation had burnt the BJP flag. No non-bailable sections were invoked against the CPI(M) workers, he said. The party would take up the issue with Union Ministry of Home Affairs, he added.
