CHENNAI: The city police on Saturday arrested around 660 people, including 40 women, for attempting to lay siege to the Chief Minister ‘Edappadi’ K Palaniswami’s house demanding release of four pro-Eelam activists detained under the Goondas Act.
Police said the protest started around 4 pm and just as the protesters were making their way to the Chief Minister’s house, they were stopped and arrested.
“The protesters were arrested at the protest site - the State Government Guest House in Chepauk,” said an officer of the Triplicane police.
“They were housed in community halls in different parts of the city like Thousand Lights, Nungambakkam, Egmore and Anna Salai. There was no violence at the protest. They were all arrested around 4.30 pm and were let off by 6 pm.”
The agitation was held to demand the release of the founder of the May 17 movement, Thirumurugan Gandhi. Gandhi was arrested when the May 17 movement organised a candle vigil on the Marina Beach on May 21 to pay homage to the civilians killed in final phase of the Eelam war.
Subsequently, he was detained under the draconian Goondas Act, which evoked widespread criticism.
May 17 movement
The stir was held to demand the release of the May 17 movement’s founder, Thirumurugan Gandhi. He was nabbed when May 17 movement held a candle vigil on Marina on May 21 to pay homage to those killed in the Eelam war.