5 killed as violence mars DMK rally

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, AUG. 12. At least five persons were killed and scores injured as violence erupted towards the fag end of the procession taken out by the DMK here today to condemn the arrest of its leaders and ``police atrocities''.

While two persons died of bullet injuries and two of stab injuries, the other fatality was a hit-and-run case, police said. One of the victims who suffered bullet injuries died at the Government General Hospital, the bodies of the other four were brought to the Royapettah Hospital.

With reports of violence and injuries reaching the leaders, the party president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, decided to compress the meeting within one hour to break off at 9 p.m. The meeting called for a probe into the ``jungle raj'' in Tamil Nadu.

Four bodies were found along Kamaraj Salai on the Marina after the public rally at Seerani ended. Four police vehicles, a bus, a jeep and two motorcycles were torched. The injured included over 100 DMK men, at least a dozen journalists and eight police personnel.

There was no major problem till sunset and till the procession reached the police headquarters on the Marina. That was where the clashes broke out.

The police said those at the tail end of the procession turned violent, pelted stones and smashed police vehicles. A mob allegedly cut off a policeman's finger and set ablaze department vehicles. The police resorted to lathi-charge, burst tear gas shells and opened fire.

Eyewitnesses said besides DMK men and police, groups of `hoodlums' from the nearby slums also joined in the clashes.

Journalists bore the brunt of the attack from all sides. Among the injured was The Hindu photographer, Mr. M. Moorthy. He was hit on the head and back and his equipment smashed. Most of the injured scribes and lensmen were hospitalised.

DMK sources said the ``provocation came from both the police and AIADMK hoodlums, who joined in from the nearby slums''. They said most of the injured had deep injuries, pointing to the use of sharp weapons.

The Police Commissioner, Mr. K. Muthukaruppan, said at a press conference late in the night that only one person died in ``police action'' and 32 policemen were injured, many of them seriously.

A look around near the DGP's office and on the Marina revealed all the tell-tale marks of a war zone. Many vehicles were badly damaged and owners complained of ``missing vehicles''.

Four bodies were found near the Tamil Nadu Slum Board office on Kamaraj Salai and the policemen on the spot told The Hindu, ``These are hit and run or run-over cases, which have nothing to do with the procession or the violence''. It was obvious that there was a round of violence even after the public meeting ended at Seerani Arangam.

Behind the DGP office, nearly 20 DMK volunteers with bleeding injuries were given first aid by the locals. The police headquarters provided shelter to the injured policemen and some of the journalists too.

All along the 10-km route of the procession, DMK men raised obscene slogans against police, particularly against the Police Commissioner. It was left to the party leaders to calm their tempers and keep the cadres under check.

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