45 held in connection with violence over Hogenakkal issue

Chennai, Apr 3 (UNI) Police today arrested 45 people in connection with the violent incidents in the city in the aftermath of the attack on Tamil people in Karnataka by pro-Kannada outfits, which were opposing the implementation of the Hogenakkal drinking water project.

Meanwhile, various forms of agitation, including attack on hotels, demonstration and blackening of Kannada words in buses, continued for the second day today in Tamil Nadu.

In the city, a group of men, owing allegiance to the PMK, ransacked a hotel at Ashok Nagar which was run by a Kannadiga.

They also shouted slogans denouncing the attacks on Tamils in Karnataka.

In T Nagar area, volunteers of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) went on an overdrive and attacked the Karnataka Sangha Association, which also runs a school there, and tried to blacken the name board. However, police intervened in time and prevented a major incident.

Taking serious view of the incidents, Chennai City Police Commissioner Nanchil Kumaran issued a stern warning to those taking law in their own hands by indulging in violence.

He said people could express their anger in a democratic way and any form of violence was unacceptable.

He said 45 people were so far arrested in connection with the violent incidents in various parts of the city.

Reports received at the police headquarters said various forms of agitations were reported from several parts of the State, including attack on hotels, demonstration, burning of effigies and blackening of Kannada words in Karnataka buses.

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