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PONDICHERRY: The Pondicherry-based Dalit People's Protection Centre (DPCC) has urged the Tamil Nadu Government to release the DPI leader and MLA R Thirumavalavan, who was arrested and lodged in jail.

In a statement, Chitra D Singaraj, convenor of the party, said that arresting Thirumavalavan itself was illegal and he should not have been victimised for giving a call for a bandh democratically.

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DPI calls for bandh in Pondy on Monday

PONDICHERRY: The Pondicherry unit of Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) has given a call for a 12-hour bandh (from 6 am to 6 pm) here to impress upon the Tamil Nadu Government for a CBI probe into the murder of Mudakanthan Pandi in Madurai recently.

The bandh is also for demanding the release of party leader R Thirumavalavan.

EXTEND SUPPORT: The constituents of the NDA, the DMK and the BJP, have also extended their support to the bandh. R V Janakiraman, Convenor of Pondy unit of the DMK, has said that since the DPI is an ally of the NDA, they would support the bandh. He has also asserted that an inquiry should be ordered to probe into the murder of Pandi. He has accused the Tamil Nadu governmnt of trying to scuttle the democratic rights of citizens in organising peaceful agitations by arresting Thirumavalavan.

PREVENTIVE ARREST: In view of the bandh, police have taken into preventive custody 12 DPI men, including Pondy DPI Convenor I Thalayari, Vadivelu and Gajendran on Sunday afternoon.

BAN ORDER: Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police (North) has promulgated regulatory orders under Section 30 (2) of the Police Act banning bandh, assembly of persons, processions, demonstration and picketing within the jurisdiction of the Pondicherry (North) region from June 24 to 28. The regulatory orders would be enforced in all the areas coming under Grand Bazar, Muthialpet and D'Nagar Circles for all the five days.

Moreover, the police pickets have been posted in all areas and patrolling has been intensified in view of the bandh. SP (North) S Shanmughasundaram told reporters that any attempt to disrupt the law and order would be dealt with severely.

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Two DPI men stabbed

TIRUVALLUR: Two persons, including a DPI district secretary, were stabbed in a group clash near the bus-stand here on Friday. There was a clash between DPI district secretary C P Kumar and district office-bearer of the Puratchi Bharatham, Done, on Thursday over previous enmity.

After the incident, 20 DPI men, including State organiser Mohan, were arrested when they tried to stage a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here on Friday.

C P Kumar and his brother Thomas (21) were going in a motorcycle to call on the arrested DPI men when about 25 persons who came in motorcycles waylaid and attacked them with deadly weapons and fled the scene.

C P Kumar and Thomas were first admitted to the Tiruvallur Government Hospital and then referred to the Chennai Stanley Government Hospital for further treatment.

Tiruvallur town police have registered a case and are investigating.