‘Unfortunate, because of miscommunication’: DMK minister about attack on party MP’s home

“There were a lot of events planned in Tiruchirapalli on behalf of the government on Wednesday. For whichever event I attend, the district collector, corporation commissioners and partymen accompany me. I wouldn’t have all details of the event. I was informed that I would be inaugurating a badminton court… While I was on the way to the event, a few people asked how I missed their leader’s name in the invitation. I told them to ask the organisers about it and left. Some unfortunate incidents took place later,” Nehru told reporters.

Nehru also said he had learnt about the incident only later. For his part, Siva said he had spoken to the minister and that their future activities would be towards the party’s growth as it was more important.

On Wednesday, close to 15 men entered Siva’s home at SBI Colony and damaged the windscreen of a car, another vehicle, plastic chairs and lights on its premises. They later entered the police station and attacked Siva’s supporters who had been detained for showing black flags to Nehru. A policewoman who attempted to prevent the attack was injured.

As the Opposition raised questions about the law and order situation in the state, police made five arrests and the ruling DMK suspended people found to have violated party discipline.

Siva’s supporters who waved the black flags were reportedly upset that their leader had not been invited to the minister’s event.

The MP, who returned home on Thursday from Bahrain, said he was deeply pained by the incidents that unfolded at his home.