Over 570 persons, including MDMK chief Vaiko and Tamizhar Desiya Iyakkam leader P. Nedumaran, were arrested on Monday for attempting to picket the Sri Lankan mission here stressing that India should support the US-sponsored motion against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council. They were later released.
Around 11 a.m., several protesters, including those from Tamizhar Desiya Iyakkam, MDMK and Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam gathered near the Tank Bund Road and raised slogans against Sri Lankan government. They demanded that the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner be removed.
Later, they tried to march towards the Deputy High Commission office, but were prevented by the police. The protesters then squatted on the road.
They were taken into custody and detained at the Rajarathinam Stadium. They were released at 5.30 p.m. Over 1,000 policemen were deployed in and around Nungambakkam.
“Vehicle movement was restricted on Mahalingapuram Main Road and Tank Bund Road and it was diverted to Sterling Road,” said a police officer.
Advocates boycotted the Madras High Court and other courts, demanding that the Centre vote against Sri Lanka at the UN for its human rights violations.
The advocates belonged to various associations, which included the Madras High Court Advocates Association, Tamil Nadu Advocates Association and the Women Lawyers Association. They staged a demonstration in front of the High Court raising slogans against the Sri Lankan government. A section of lawyers “hanged’ an effigy of the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Later, they burnt it.
Special Correspondent from Coimbatore writes:
A series of protests/demonstrations were held here to condemn Sri Lankan government.
A group of advocates took out a rally from the Bar Association building in the District Sessions Court complex and staged a demonstration against Mr. Rajapaksa. They also burnt an effigy of Mr. Rajapaksa.
Viduthalai Chiruthuigal Katchi activists held a demonstration in front of the Central Telegraph office urging India to support the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.
A group of World Tamil Peravai activists and some lawyers staged a demonstration in front of a show room dealing with furniture from Sri Lanka on TV Samy Road in R.S. Puram.
Some miscreants hurled rotten eggs at the show room. The activists defaced the word Sri Lanka from the shop’s name board and tore the banner. As many as nine activists were removed by the police.