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Police search Vaiko's house

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

Officials of the `Q' branch of Tamil Nadu police emerging from a search at the residence of the MDMK leader, Vaiko, in Anna Nagar, Chennai, on Thursday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI Aug. 8. The `Q' branch of the Tamil Nadu police today searched the MDMK headquarters here, residences of the party general secretary, Vaiko, in the city and in Kalingapatti, and that of the eight other party functionaries held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). Later in the evening, police searched the residence of the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, Nedumaran, who is also being held under POTA.

Police said that they had seized two audio cassettes of the meeting during which the DMK candidate for the Srivilliputhur constituency in the 1989 elections was introduced, the controversial speech at Thirumangalam on June 29 this year, two books containing compilations of the speeches made by Vaiko in Parliament, a photograph of the LTTE cadres Kuttimani, Jagan and Thangadurai paying homage and another of the former LTTE deputy chief, Mahathiah, Mr.Vaiko, and the LTTE chief, Prabakaran. A 1999 calendar containing Prabakaran's photographs was also taken away. In Kalingapatti, 20 pieces of material, including six portraits depicting Mr.Vaiko with Prabakaran and Mahathiah, were seized.

"The search warrant mentions something to the effect that the police were looking for proof to establish that MDMK volunteers had contact with a banned organisation. It was also to search for incriminating material on this count. But they found nothing," the MDMK spokesperson, Nanmaran, said. The raids in the party headquarters and its newspaper office had set a bad precedent, he added. Police swooped down early today simultaneously at the MDMK office and residences located in Chennai, Madurai, Thirumangalam, Kalingapatti and Erode. The MDMK had been expecting the raids after Mr. Vaiko was arrested.

In Chennai, a police party arrived at Mr. Vaiko's Anna Nagar residence at around 6 a.m. and carried out the search. The entire process was videographed. Mr. Vaiko's wife and daughter were allowed to stay while the servants were asked to remain outside the house. Police reportedly rummaged through Mr. Vaiko's collection of books, read letters addressed to him and studied the available financial documents.

* * *

Voting right sought

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI AUG. 8. The MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, who is facing charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and who has been lodged in the Vellore Central Jail since July 11, has petitioned the Madras High Court to permit him to vote in the Vice-Presidential election at New Delhi on August 12.

Noting that such permission would not jeopardise the case against him, Mr. Vaiko said he should not be deprived of his right to vote in the election just because he was in detention.

"If I am detained under judicial custody at Vellore and no arrangement is made to go to Delhi to cast my vote, I will be deprived of my right as an MP," he said in his petition.

The Election Commission has notified only New Delhi as the polling station, he said, adding that he had moved the court only to enable him perform his Constitutional duty.

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