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Case registered against Vaiko

By S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI JULY 4. The Tirumangalam police here today registered a case against the Sivakasi MP and MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, and eight others, under various sections of the Prevention Of Terrorist Act (POTA), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the IPC. This is the first time that the provisions under POTA are being invoked in Tamil Nadu.

The others charged in the case include Veera Ilavarasan, Bhoominathan (Madurai urban district secretary), Ganesamoorthy (Erode district secretary of the party), Sivanthiappan (Sivaganga district secretary) and four others.

Mr. Vaiko and the others are charged with making pro-LTTE speeches at a meeting organised by Mr. Ilavarasan in Tirumangalam on June 29.

``The speech of the above said persons instigates the public, that it is not wrong to support an organisation which has been banned and exhorts the public to go against the law by supporting an outlawed organisation,'' says a police report to the Government which adds that "the speeches are likely to endanger the nation's security and integrity as per the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967''.

Police sources said the case was registered based on a specific complaint preferred by the Tirumangalam Inspector, N. Thangavelu, that "the speech of the MDMK cadre had created a panic among the people who were wondering why the Government was not invoking POTA despite introducing it''.

The allegations are that Mr. Vaiko has said in his speech that "he was, is and will continue to be a supporter of the LTTE''. He is also said to have claimed that the LTTE was not promoting terrorism and its sole cause was the liberation of `Eelam'. The cases have been registered under Section 21(2)(3) of the POTA, Section 13 (1)(a) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Sections 109 (abetment) and 120(B) (sedition) of IPC against the accused. The police also claimed that Mr. Ilavarasan presented a memento resembling a tiger cub to Mr. Vaiko.

Although no arrests have been made yet, the issue sparked tension almost instantly in parts of the Sivakasi Lok Sabha constituency in Virudhunagar district. Suspected MDMK cadre pasted the posters condemning the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, for trying to invoke POTA against Mr. Vaiko. Three persons, Balu, Govindan and Murugan of Srivilliputtur, were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Advani calls for report

PTI reports from New Delhi:

The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today said he had asked the Home Ministry to give a report on the issue concerning the MDMK leader, Vaiko, against whom the Tamil Nadu Government had filed an FIR under POTA for his pro-LTTE utterances.

``I have asked my Ministry to give a report. But it's a matter concerning the State Government. What can I say?'' Mr. Advani said in an interview to Aaj Tak.

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