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Nazareth town observes strike

By Our Special Correspondent

Nazareth, (Tuticorin district), Feb. 18. Following an attack on Congress supporters by AIADMK sympathisers, Nazareth town today observed one-day strike, demanding Central Reserve police protection on the election day in Sattankulam.

The attack was the culmination of a quarrel over removal of a makeshift Congress election office, situated on the campaign roads of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa.

When the town panchayat vice-chairman, S. Maamallan of the MDMK, who was electioneering for the Congress, opposed the removal of the Congress office as a nearby AIADMK office was left untouched, the police said they had instructions only to remove the Congress office.

Tension began building up as the AIADMK sympathisers, owing allegiance to the Tamil Maanila Kamaraj Congress, led by D. Kumaradas, joined issue with the MDMK functionaries and Congress supporters.

According to Mr. Maamallan, he and his supporters were attacked by the other group in full view of the police.

"Had we got caught in the midst, they would have killed us,'' Mr. Maamallan told The Hindu.

Immediately after the attack, the church bell was sounded for an emergency meeting of the people of Nazareth.

At the end of it, a committee of people called for eviction of outsiders from the town. Shops downed their shutters and transport vehicles were off the road.

In a memorandum submitted to the Election Commission, the election observers and the Tuticorin Collector, the Nazareth Town Peoples' Welfare Union wanted the police to withdraw the cases filed against the victims of the attack.

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