Two arrested in connection with violent incident in Cong HQ

Chennai, Mar 26 (UNI) Police have arrested two people in connection with yesterday's violence at the Tamil Nadu Congress party headquarters Sathyamoorthy Bhavan here, in which two faction of Congressmen attacked each other with weapons, leaving six persons injured.

The arrested were identified as Rajesh and Rooban, both 20 years old, police said.

Based on a complaint of the injured, police have registered cases against nearly 100 Congressmen, including North Chennai District Congress president Royapuram Mano, under various sections of the IPC. The police were in search of Mano and others, who were said to be absconding.

The police have also registered counter cases against a few supporters of Dr A S Chellakumar.

It might be recalled that a group of Congressmen, supporters of expelled AICC member and former legislator Dr Chellakumar and another group of supporters of Mano clashed with each other when the former went to Sathyamoorthy Bhavan to undertake a fasting agitation in protest against his expulsion, which was objected to by another group and ended in a free for all.

Dr Chellakumar was expelled from the party by TNCC President Mr Krishnaswamy as per the instruction of Congress Working Committee Member and incharge of Tamil Nadu Affairs Veerappa Moily for burning the effigies of Mr Moily by the supporters of Dr Chellakumar in protest against surrendering the Congress party's interest with DMK President M Karunanidhi.

Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader S R Balasubramoaniam condemned the police action against Mr Mano and others by filing cases against them and termed it as a 'political vindictive' action.

In a statement here today, he claimed that Mr Mano and others attempted to pacify the agitated supporters of Dr Chellakumar. In the melee Mr Mano and others were attacked.

Instead of taking action against the unruly agitators, police foisted false cases against Mr Mano and his supporters, which was highly condemnable, he said and alleged that this was done at the behest of the ruling AIADMK to prevent Mr Mano and others to undertake electioneering in the May 8 Assembly elections.

The CLP leader warned the police not to abet the unlawful acts of the ruling AIADMK.

UNI RV ROY SC BD1924