Statues of Rajiv Gandhi Damaged in Chennai

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Statues of Rajiv Gandhi Damaged in Chennai


Petrol bombs were today hurled at the office of a local Tamil outfit while statues of Rajiv Gandhi were found damaged in some parts of the city, a day after pro-Tamil outfits and Congressmen clashed over the issue of release of convicts in the assassination case of the former prime minister.

Unidentified persons hurled petrol bombs at the Porur head office of Naam Tamilar Katchi, headed by actor-politician Seeman, police said.

Party sources said the incident happened in the wee hours of today but none was injured in the incident.

The statues of Rajiv Gandhi were found damaged at Otteri and Vepery here and local Congress functionaries staged protest against this.

Workers of pro-Tamil outfit "Tamil Padai" (Tamil Force) had yesterday tried to storm the headquarters of the state Congress Unit to condemn the Centre's stand over the release of convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Later, Naam Tamilar Katchi, also held a protest on the same issue.



FILED ON: FEB 27, 2014 12:27 IST


Statues of Rajiv Gandhi Damaged in Chennai


Bad precedence.

 

[Gibbs]

5 hurt as pro-Tamil groups clash with Congress workers - The Hindu


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  THE HINDUTension prevailed outside the Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress office in Chennai on Thiruvika Salai after pro-Tamil groups and Congress workers clashed on Wednesday over the release of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins. Photo: K. Pichumani
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  THE HINDUPolice form barricades outside the Satyamurthy Bhavan on Thiruvika Salai in Chennai on Wednesday after pro-Tamil groups clashed with Congress workers on the issue of the release of the assassins of Rajiv Gandhi. Photo: K. Pichumani

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politics
state politics

Congress workers and pro-Sri Lankan Tamil groups on Wednesday clashed outside the Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC). Five persons, including a policeman, were injured.

According to police, the trouble began when Tamil nationalist groups, particularly members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi, observing Day of Justice for Eelam Tamils, tried to besiege the Congress office.

They raised slogans condemning the alleged pro-Sri Lankan stand of the Congress and the decision of the Centre to contest in the court the move by Tamil Government to release seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Police intercepted them on Anna Salai and took them into custody before they could reach the office.

In the meantime, members of another little-known pro-Tamil group assembled outside the TNCC headquarters and started throwing stones on the building. They also tried to burn party president Sonia Gandhi’s effigy.

Congress workers inside the building retaliated by hurling bricks at the protesters. The police then resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. The five injured were taken to the government hospital in Royapettah. The confrontation threw traffic out of gear on the arterial Anna Salai and Thiru Vi Ka Salai. Following this, Congressmen came out of the building and joined those squatting on the Thiru Vi Ka Salai (GP Road), demanding action against the pro-Tamil groups. This resulted in heavy traffic congestion in the area for over three hours.

The police barricaded the stretch on Anna Salai leading to Thiru Vi Ka Salai and diverted traffic. Union Minister G.K. Vasan and TNCC president B.S. Gnanadesikan condemned the attack on the Congress office.

“The Tamil Nadu government should deal with such uncivilised acts with an iron hand. Tamil people would not support such acts,” Mr. Vasan said.

Keywords: Rajiv gandhi assassins, death penatly, release of Rajiv Gandhi killers, Satyamurthy Bhavan clash, Naam Tamilar Katchi

 

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