Five held for damaging cut-out

Puducherry, Oct 17 (UNI) Five persons, including Villianur Commune Panchayat councillor Mahalingam (Cong) and his brother Rudramurty were arrested last night, in connection with damaging a cut-out of A Namasivayam, the Parliamentary Secretary to Puducherry Chief Minister.

The 40-feet tall cut-out errected at the Arumparthapuram railway gate to felicitate Namasivayamon on his birthday, was found damaged on October 15.

His supporters had lodged a complaint with the Villianur police and resorted to a road blockade yesterday, demanding the arrest of the culprits. They also called on Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who assured them of proper action.

The arrested were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dhanasekeran, who remanded them to a 15-day judicial custody last night itself. Police were on the look out for two others allegedly involved in the vandalism.

A section of the Congress workers were agitated over the arrest, as Mahalingam was a supporter of AICC General Secretary V Narayanasamy.

UNI