Functionaries and cadre of the MDMK staged a demonstration in Coonoor on Sunday.
It was in protest against the visit of two Sri Lankan army officers Rear Admiral S.N. Ranasinghe and Major General Jagasularagadias to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington near Coonoor reportedly for interaction.
They raised slogans demanding denial of admission to the officers into the DSSC in view of the anti Sri Lankan Government sentiment which was prevailing in Tamil Nadu owing to the alleged anti Tamil attitude of the government.
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Nineteen demonstrators including the Nilgiris district secretary Hattari Nanjan and the secretary, Coimbatore City Unit V. Eashwaran were arrested.
Meanwhile defence sources when contacted by The Hindu said that the officers were part of a 25 member group of officers from various countries including Vietnam, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Laos.
Stating that the group had come from the National Defence College, Delhi, they said that it was a routine visit. Every year such groups spend a day at Wellington visiting the DSSC and the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC).
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Security has been beefed up in the hotel in which the group has been accommodated.