Police round up AIADMK activists throughout TN

CHENNAI, JUNE 14: Over 1,350 AIADMK volunteers have been taken into preventive custody through out the State following a call by AIADMK supr...

CHENNAI, JUNE 14: Over 1,350 AIADMK volunteers have been taken into preventive custody through out the State following a call by AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha to hold demonstrations at all district headquarters and towns on Monday condemning the alleged failure of the DMK government to mitigate the State farmers sufferings.

Police said the arrests were made in all the districts as they anticipated trouble when the demonstrations take place. While 100 volunteers were arrested in Coimbatore, in other districts the number varied from 50 to 100. Jayalalitha had called for the protest, charging Chief Minister M Karunanidhi with being indifferent to farmers problems even after her party had given him time to solve the problems.

In Tiruchi, about 60 AIADMK members were taken into preventive custody. Prohibitory orders have also been clamped in Tiruchi district in view of the agitation. While about 55 persons were taken into preventive custody Tirunelveli. According to the police, the arrested persons wereanti-social elements and rowdies. About 35 persons have been arrested in Tirunelveli corporation limits and another 21 persons in rural areas. In Salem district, two hundred AIADMK men were taken into preventive custody on Sunday. Meanwhile, J Rajendran, Superintendent of Police, Salem, has issued orders under Section 30 2 of the Police Act regulating processions and meetings in the district for a fortnight.

In a statement, Jayalalitha condemned the arrest of over 10,000 partymen across the State and called for their immediate release. She said the procession was planned to be a peaceful and non-disruptive one but Karunanidhi had egged on the police to arrest her partymen.

Jayalalitha said the government had proved that it was two-faced8217; as it had on one hand permitted the demonstrations and on the other had set about arresting party workers. She warned that it will be Karunanidhi8217;s sole responsibility if anything untoward happens during the demonstration.

Meanwhile, Jayalalitha, who had earlierannounced a press conference at 10 am in Chennai on Monday, cancelled the media meet on Sunday night. There was speculation earlier in the day that Jayalalitha would make an important announcement on Monday regarding her party8217;s ties with the BJP. No reasons were given for the sudden cancellation of the press meet.