The wave of protests against Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president E.V.K.S. Elangovan for his remarks on the recent meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa continued on Friday as the AIADMK cadre attacked the Congress party’s office here .
Several AIADMK functionaries, including the party’s Tiruchi MP, P. Kumar, were taken into custody after Arunachala Mandram , the Congress office, came under attack . Tension gripped the busy Mainguard Gate area following the incident.
The AIADMK men gathered in the morning to lay siege to the Congress office. Police put barricades to prevent the AIADMK cadre from entering the office.
Some AIADMK cadre, who came in procession with Mr. Kumar, pelted the office with stones, and threw eggs at the premises. Glass panes of the Congress office were damaged. Some AIADMK cadre also pulled down a flex board at the office.
Police personnel had a tough time to keep the AIADMK cadre away from the office. The personnel thwarted the attempts of the AIADMK men to burn an effigy of Mr.Elangovan. Police sources said 170 persons, including 15 women, were held.
Traffic was diverted for over a couple of hours. Mr. Kumar told reporters that the agitations would continue till Mr. Elangovan apologised for his remarks.
Meanwhile, Congress functionaries came out strongly against the attack with the party cadre staging a demonstration inside the office. Agitated Congress workers argued with the police seeking action against the AIADMK men for indulging in “violence.” The Congress party’s south district president, R.C. Babu, told reporters that the party cadre would not remain mute spectators if the police did not act against such violence. The attack only reflected the “deteriorating” law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. Mr. Babu later lodged a police complaint against Mr. Kumar and other AIADMK functionaries.
Case booked against MP
The Fort police registered a case against Mr. P. Kumar, Deputy Mayor J.Srinivasan and 168 other AIADMK party cadres.
The case was booked under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC. Police said Mr. Kumar and the AIADMK functionaries arrested in connection with the attack were later released on bail. The case against Mr. Kumar and other AIADMK cadres was that they had assembled without police permission and tried to lay siege to the Congress office.