Violence mars civic polls

Chennai, Oct 13: The police resorted to a lathicharge today in front of the Chennai City Police Commissionerate to disperse workers of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) headed by actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth.

Police sources told UNI that Vijaykanth, along with his party candidates, came to submit a petition to City Police Commissioner Letika Saran about the 'largescale booth capturing by members of the ruling DMK' in today's polling for the first phase of local body elections when they were stopped at the gate.

More than 600 DMDK workers, who accompanied the 'Captain,' protested and police used force to chase them away. A few DMDK workers sustained injuries.

After pacifying the agitators, Vijayakanth was allowed to meet the Commissioner. He submitted a petition demanding action against the errant DMK workers who 'indulged in booth capturing.' Police said incidents of booth capturing were rampant in the city, especially in areas like Periamet, Royapuram, Ayanavaram and MGR Nagar.

Reports from various parts of the city stated unprecedented violence, malpractices, booth capturing and rigging during the polling.

MDMK Candidate 'Market' Sekar, contesting in one of the wards in the city, was allegedly attacked allegedly by a DMK cadre when he questioned about rigging in one of the booths.

Party sources told UNI that Sekar suffered several injuries and was admitted to the Government General Hospital.

In another incident, someCPI(M) workers, including a functionary involved in election-related work, were injured when they were allegedly attacked by DMK candidate Dhanasekaran contesting in Ward 130 at MGR Nagar, a CPI(M) press release claimed.

It alleged that Manikandan was attacked and dragged out of the polling booth along with some polling agents by the DMK cadre.

Manikandan was admitted to the hospital, the party said, and demanded the arrest of Dhanasekaran and his supporters.

UNI