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Tension as Congress cadres protest attack bid

By Our Staff Reporter

Tuticorin Feb. 24 . Tension prevailed at Sattankulam on the final day today of the campaign for the Assembly byelection in this constituency, as Congress cadres squatted on the road to protest an alleged attempt to attack the party candidate, A. Mahendran, by a group in the town. The agitated workers raised slogans against a State Minister and demanded the arrest of ruling partymen allegedly involved in the attempt. Fearing trouble, a few shopkeepers began to close the shops, but the Congress workers asked them to continue with their business. The Congress workers, led by the TNCC working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, the senior functionary Dhanuskodi Athithan, and Mr. Mahendran went in procession to the Sattankulam police station from the bus stand and submitted a complaint.

According to the complaint, a group of 25 persons in 10 cars intercepted Mr. Mahendran's campaign vehicle in front of the Sattankulam fire station at around 1 p.m. A couple of them, wielding wooden logs, allegedly attempted to hit him in the head. Mr. Mahendran's driver, however, prevented the attack and sustained hand injuries in the melee. The group, besides damaging a mike and a taperecorder kept in the vehicle, allegedly threatened Mr. Mahendran to stop the campaign, before leaving the scene.

The incident sparked protest and the Congress men squatted on the road. Mr. Elangovan rushed to the spot and joined the protest along with Mr. Athithan. After some time, the workers led by Mr. Elangovan, went in procession towards the Sattankulam police station. The workers again squatted on the road near the Kamaraj statue and raised slogans against a Minister. After a while, they again took out a procession towards the police station, where the TNCC president, S. Balakrishnan, joined them.

The Congress delegation submitted a complaint to the DSP, Karnan, who assured it that he would look into the matter. Following his assurance, the Congressmen dispersed.

Speaking to the media after the complaint was submitted, Mr. Mahendran charged the AIADMK with indulging in such acts as it was afraid of losing the February 26 byelection.

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