Stone-throwing: 9 of Hindu Munnani, 7 of DK arrested

Trichy: A day after a few Hindu Munnani cadres disrupted a Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) public meeting here, the city police on Friday arrested a total of 16 people in connection with the incident. The arrested include cadres from both outfits.

Gandhi Market police registered a case and arrested nine Hindu Munnani members including functionaries Manikandan and Balamurugan. The police also arrested seven DK members including local functionaries Arockiyaraj and Mohandoss. DK members alleged that negligence in providing security and failure to evacuate Hindu Munnani cadres from the venue led to the violence which left four of their cadres injured. The outfit was holding a public meeting showing support for Congress candidate Su Thirunavukkarasar at Keerakadai Bazaar when a host of Hindu Munnani members threw stones at the gathering.

DK members said that permission for the meeting was obtained from the election and police departments by intimating them of the presence of DK president K Veeramani and DMK MLA K N Nehru. Though DK cadres preferred to host the meeting near Sedal Mariyamman temple in Bhima Nagar, they were given permission to host the meeting at Keerakadai. As the meeting progressed, while DK’s general secretary Arivukkarasu was justifying a controversial remark made by DK leader K Veeramani at Hindu god Krishna, a group of Hindu Munnani cadre pelted stones and plastic chairs at the dais.

“It seems like a planned attack as there was no adequate police protection to prevent the violence. Even after the assault, the vehicle of our leaders was stopped and there were attempts to assault them,” a DK member. Meanwhile, Hindu Munnani founder organiser Rama Gopalan claimed DK members attacked them first after they opposed DK leaders criticising lord Krishna. “As per election model code of conduct, remarks insulting religious sentiments are prohibited. Though we have lodged complaints across against K Veeramani’s derogatory remarks, police are hesitant in taking action,” Rama Gopalan said.