DMK candidate in Jaya's constituency assaulted

Chennai, May 8 : DMK candidate Seeman, who is contesting against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Andipatti assembly seat, was today allegedly assaulted by a group of AIADMK workers.

The incident allegedly occurred when he raised questions about AIADMK booth agents helping a blind woman voter cast her vote in favour of their party.

Police said the woman voter came to the booth in Rajendra Nagar and asked the presiding officer about the AIADMK symbol on the machine.

While he remained silent, AIADMK agents helped the woman cast her vote in favour of their party. Mr Seeman, who visited the booth, questioned the officials about the incident after being informed about the matter by DMK agents.

Soon a quarrel ensued between him and the polling officials and Mr Seeman disconnected the electricity supply to the EVM, pulled the machine down and walked out of the booth.

Due to this, polling came to a halt for about ten minutes. The machine was soon repaired and voting resumed.

When news of the incident spread, the AIADMK men, who were assembled in front of the booth, allegedly assaulted Mr Seeman and damaged his car. However, the DMK workers escorted him to safety in another car.

Police have received counter complaints and are investigating.

A report from Madurai said according to the Superintendent of Police Theni District, S P Dinakaran, the polling officer in the booth lodged a complaint against Mr Seeman, saying the damaged an EVM. He said Mr Seeman had also given a comlaint alleging assault against him. ''We are taking action based on the reports,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Seeman told newspersons at the booth that on learning that largescale bogus voting was taking place, he rushed to the booth at Rajendranagar in Athangaraipatti village.

However, before he could enter the booth, an eight- member gang armed with lethal weapons, assaulted him, he alleged.

UNI

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