Vaiko, Nedumaran arrested for attempting to take out rally

Chennai, Nov 12 (UNI) MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and Tamil National Movement Leader P Nedumaran were among more than 500 people who courted arrest when they attempted to take out a rally to condemn last week's killing of LTTE political wing leader S P Thamilselvan by the Lankan Military.

The rally was organised under the banner of Coordination Committee of Supporters of Tamil Eelam Liberation, of which Mr Nedumaran is the convener.

Police sources said the leaders were arrested when they assembled near the Munroe statue on the arterial Anna Salai and taken in a van when they attempted to take out the rally in defiance of prohibitory orders in force.

Police had declined permission for the rally, but both Mr Nedumaran and Mr Vaiko, staunch supporters of the banned LTTE, had declared that they would defy the prohibitory orders and court arrest.

As police started arresting the TNM and MDMK volunteers forcibly, they squatted on the road before courting arrest.

Mr Vaiko charged the Centre with betraying the Sri Lankan Tamils by supplying radars and weapons to the Lankan Government.

UNI