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Cops call for peace in Kovai as communal trouble simmers
As communal tension continued to simmer in Coimbatore for the sixth consecutive day, City Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan stepped up efforts to ease the situation by holding separate “peace meetings” with members of the Hindu and Islamic outfits here on Sunday.
While both groups stuck to their stands claiming that they were not to blame, Viswanathan made it clear that the police would not hesitate to even invoke the National Security Act against miscreants who disturb public harmony. Additional police personnel have also been deployed in the city. A week ago, a fracas involving two groups of people over a petty issue had led to physical attacks on members of Islamic and Hindu communities in Mettupalayam. This had flared up following an attack on RSS district secretary Anandan. Over the past three days, the communal tension had spread to areas like Ukkadam and Selvapuram with both groups alleging that miscreants had damaged their respective properties.
“Public peace is our only priority. We will take strong action against those trying to disturb public peace,” the CoP warned.
At a meeting of Hindu representatives, he sought their cooperation to ensure that the festive spirit during Deepavali was not spoiled.
“Public fear, whether the current situation is leading towards 1997-98 situation, which was a horrible incident,” he said without mentioning the serial bomb blasts and the communal violence preceding it. The police would crackdown on anyone who spread rumours through SMS messages, Viswanathan told journalists later.
Meanwhile, representatives of some Hindu outfits and political parties like the BJP urged the police to take action against miscreants irrespective of their religion. “The law should be applied equally to all. We also want peace,” BJP district president Nandhakumar said.
Incidentally, representatives of Islamic outfits too took a similar stand during the peace meeting convened in the evening.
“If any of our members is involved in violence, you can inform us and we will turn that person in before the law,” said Umar, State deputy secretary, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested 16 persons including 12 Hindus and four Muslims under various Sections on Sunday.
As communal tension continued to simmer in Coimbatore for the sixth consecutive day, City Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan stepped up efforts to ease the situation by holding separate “peace meetings” with members of the Hindu and Islamic outfits here on Sunday.
While both groups stuck to their stands claiming that they were not to blame, Viswanathan made it clear that the police would not hesitate to even invoke the National Security Act against miscreants who disturb public harmony. Additional police personnel have also been deployed in the city. A week ago, a fracas involving two groups of people over a petty issue had led to physical attacks on members of Islamic and Hindu communities in Mettupalayam. This had flared up following an attack on RSS district secretary Anandan. Over the past three days, the communal tension had spread to areas like Ukkadam and Selvapuram with both groups alleging that miscreants had damaged their respective properties.
“Public peace is our only priority. We will take strong action against those trying to disturb public peace,” the CoP warned.
At a meeting of Hindu representatives, he sought their cooperation to ensure that the festive spirit during Deepavali was not spoiled.
“Public fear, whether the current situation is leading towards 1997-98 situation, which was a horrible incident,” he said without mentioning the serial bomb blasts and the communal violence preceding it. The police would crackdown on anyone who spread rumours through SMS messages, Viswanathan told journalists later.
Meanwhile, representatives of some Hindu outfits and political parties like the BJP urged the police to take action against miscreants irrespective of their religion. “The law should be applied equally to all. We also want peace,” BJP district president Nandhakumar said.
Incidentally, representatives of Islamic outfits too took a similar stand during the peace meeting convened in the evening.
“If any of our members is involved in violence, you can inform us and we will turn that person in before the law,” said Umar, State deputy secretary, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested 16 persons including 12 Hindus and four Muslims under various Sections on Sunday.
