Bandh hits normal life in Pondy

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JUNE 30. Scores of volunteers of the DMK and its alliance parties were arrested in Pondicherry when they launched picketing at different points in and around Pondicherry to protest against the arrest of the party president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, in Chennai in the wee hours today.

Normal life was affected in Pondicherry where a bandh was called by the Opposition.

The former Pondicherry Chief Minister, Mr. R. V. Janakiraman, and his colleagues in the Assembly, the DMK vice-president, Mr. C. P. Tirunavukarasu, MP, legislators of the Puduchery Makkal Congress and the lone BJP MLA, Mr. A. M. Krishnamoorthy, were among the 500 odd persons arrested as soon as the NDA-sponsored picketing was launched.

All autos, tempos, town and inter service buses went off the roads. Shops and establishments, educational institutions, roadside coffee stalls and shopping units remained closed. All important shopping centres wore a deserted look.

Police were deployed in strength at all vulnerable points. There were no reports of untoward incidents although a few stray incidents were reported from the Karaikal region.

Centre urged to act

The former PWD Minister and founder of Puduchery Makkal congress, Mr. P. Kannan, appealed to the Centre to `act` as the ``brutal and inhuman manner'' in which the senior political leader was arrested had upset the common man. What security was there for any citizen, he asked condemning the prier functioning.

Mr. V. Pethaperumal, former Health Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader, said the `brutal' manner in which the arrest was effected showed the height of autocracy encouraged in Tamil Nadu. It was an act of vendetta. The Centre should take action to save democracy.

Mr. N. Kalainathan, State CPI Committee secretary said in a communication that the foisting of cases on opposition leaders and mediapersons and now the arrest of Mr. Karunanidhi were an utterly unnecessary action. The CPI condemned the arrest and urged the government to release Mr. Karunanidhi and others.

Regulatory order

An order under the Police Act was clamped by the Superintendent of Police, Mr. S. Shanmughasundaram, to ensure that there was no threat to peace, particularly in the context of the plans of agitation by the DMK.

In a communication today he said the order, which would be in force for 15 days from today covering the police limits of Grand Bazaar, Muthialpet and D.Nagar circles, was aimed at preventing holding of processions, collection of persons, dharnas, picketing and any other type of agitation without valid licence obtainable from police atleast 24 hours in advance.

The order does not cover religious and government functions, marriage celebrations or funeral processions.

The order has also been felt necessary as the budget session of Pondicherry has been scheduled to begin on July 5.

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