Police foil bid by HMK activists to hoist flag in Katchatheevu

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Aug 15 (UNI) Police foiled a bid by Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) volunteers to venture into controversial Katchatheevu Island and hoist the Indian flag to condemn the frequent killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and to insist the Centre retrieve the Island from Sri Lanka, today.

A police officer here said police roundedup 32 HMK volunteers, led by its State Secretary Annadurai at Verkode main road, here before they could enter into the Rameswaram Jetty and reach Katchatheevu. They seized the tricolour from them.

The HMK had announced that their activists would hoist the national flag in Katchatheevu on the Independence Day.

The Ramanathapuram district administration banned any illegal trip to Katchatheevu and warned the HMK volunteers that criminal action would be taken, if they defied the order. The administration also warned the fishermen not to take HMK activists to Katchatheevu and in case of violation, their licenses would be cancelled, along with the government subsidy on diesel with immediate effect.

Police made tight security arrangements in Rameswaram Jetty in view of the HMK volunteers' stir.

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