VCK chief arrested as he tries to protest against deportation

Chennai, Feb 22 (PTI) Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchichief Thol Thirumavalavan and around 300 party workers werearrested today for trying to protest in front of Sri LankanDeputy High Commission here against the MP''s deportation fromColombo, where he landed enroute to attend the funeral of LTTEsupremo Velupillai Prabhakaran''s mother.

Thirumavalavan and two of his party colleagues were sentback to Chennai by Sri Lankan Immigration authorities on hisarrival at the Colombo airport this morning for attending thefuneral of Velupillai Parvathipillai (81), who passed away onSunday after prolonged illness.

Condemning his deportation, Thirumavalavan attempted tostage a demonstration along with his supporters, when theywere arrested, police said.

The VCK leader came down heavily on Sri Lankan officialsfor not allowing him to attend the function.

PMK President Dr S Ramadoss and Dravidar KazhagamPresident K Veeramani condemned the deportation ofThirumavalavan, whose VCK is an ally of DMK-Congress front.