DMK student wing workers detained before protest in Chennai, police removed stage and pandal

Chennai. Police detained several Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) student wing officials and workers ahead of a proposed protest in Chennai on Monday over the controversy related to Tamil Nadu Minister Sarathkumar. The police also removed the temporary stage, pandals, loudspeakers and banners being built at the protest site. After this action, there was a tense situation in the Egmore area for some time.

The controversy started after a video went viral in which Minister Sharat Kumar was seen holding a drug-like object in his hand during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match. After the video surfaced, opposition parties raised questions on it.

Minister Sharatkumar denied the allegations, saying he was grinding medicine for his child and appealed to people not to spread misinformation. However, the DMK student wing rejected this explanation, alleging that such behavior by a person holding a high position in the government sends a wrong message among the youth. On this basis, the organization had announced protests in all the district headquarters of Tamil Nadu demanding the removal of the minister from the post.

On Monday morning, hundreds of workers and officials of the student wing started gathering near Rajarathinam ground in Egmore, Chennai. Temporary stages and pandals were being prepared for the demonstration. Meanwhile, the police team led by the Assistant Police Commissioner of Egmore told the organizers that necessary permission had not been taken from the Metropolitan Police for the demonstration and directed to stop the construction work immediately.

The protesters attempted to continue staging the stage, citing democratic rights. During this, there was a scuffle and heated argument between the police and the workers. Slogans were also raised, due to which an atmosphere of tension was created in the area for some time.

Seeing the situation worsening, the police called additional forces and detained several officials and workers of the student wing on charges of organizing the demonstration without permission. Along with this, more than half of the prepared stage, pandals, loudspeakers and demonstration banners were removed with the help of Municipal Corporation vehicles. Later all the detained activists were released.

After the incident, security has been tightened in Egmore area. A large number of police forces have been deployed to deal with any untoward situation.

On this development, the opposition alleged that democratic rights have been violated by not allowing peaceful protests. The police say that this action was taken to maintain law and order and to stop the demonstration being organized without permission.