Tension in Mannargudi as I-T raids continue

Officials carry out searches at Dhivakaran’s residences and college; angry supporters block vehicle carrying tax sleuths

Up in arms: Supporters of V. Dhivakaran protesting outside a college in Mannargudi run by him, which was raided by Income Tax officials on Friday

Intensive searches by teams of Income Tax officials continued for the second day on Friday at the residences of V. Dhivakaran, the brother of V.K. Sasikala, as well as a college run by him, at Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district.

There were tense moments in Mannargudi town when a group of supporters of Mr. Dhivakaran were detained after they tried to block the vehicle of the I-T officials involved in the search operations.

Sources said that the searches commenced in the morning at five places in Mannargudi, including the residence of S. Kamaraj, who was recently appointed by sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran as the Tiruvarur district secretary of AIADMK (Amma).

Over 20 Income Tax officials carried out a search at the college run by Mr. Dhivakaran. On noticing that the I-T officials were carrying some bags, his supporters, who had assembled at the entrance of the college, demanded that the police personnel deployed at the spot check what was in those bags, leading to a quarrel. They even blocked the I-T officials’ vehicle, demanding to know what the bags contained.

The group also wanted the officials to display their identity cards.

The police, however, escorted the I-T officials inside the college campus, prompting another wordy duel between the police and Mr. Dhivakaran’s supporters, with the latter raising slogans against the police.

20 detained

As tensions flared, a team of police personnel rushed to the spot and detained around 20 supporters of Mr. Dhivakaran as a preventive measure. The detainees were taken to a private hall.

Later, Tiruvarur Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan reviewed the security arrangements at Mannargudi and Sundarakottai in the wake of the incident.

Police sources said security was stepped up in Mannargudi town and its vicinity through increased patrolling and deployment of personnel. The search operations in the town continued throughout the day.

Meanwhile, I-T officials continued search operations for the second day at two places in Thanjavur, including the residence of Sasikala’s late nephew T.V. Mahadevan.

The search at Mr. Mahadevan’s house ended in the afternoon, sources said.