John Pandian, president of the Thamizhaka Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, has moved the Madras High Court seeking a compensation of Rs.10 lakh for the authorities' action in “illegally detaining” him a few days ago.
In an affidavit, Mr.Pandian said that on September 11, he went to Thoothukudi and his vehicle was escorted by police as usual.
After attending a function at Thoothukudi he was coming towards Palayamkottai to attend a wedding when he found roadblocks and barricades in and around the firing range at Vallanadu.
The police stopped his vehicle and the DIG told him that Section 144 Cr.P.C had been proclaimed and therefore he should go with the police official to the firing range's rest house.
He may go home on further instructions from the superior officers. He was let off only on September 13.
He said the court should hold that the detention was illegal and award the compensation.
Meanwhile, a Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and M.Venugopal ordered notice on a petition by P.Pugalenthi, an advocate, seeking a direction to the top authorities to place the Ramanathapuram District Collector and Superintendent of Police, among others, under suspension. The petitioner said that this was necessary to ensure that SCs lived in peace and appeared before the Commission of Inquiry appointed to go into the police firing at Paramakudi on September 11. Mr.Justice Elipe Dharma Rao orally observed that the police seemed to have not followed the police standing orders while handling the crowd.
Adjourned
The matter has been adjourned to October 12.
