Date:10/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/10/stories/2006071014160600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Dalit leaders held in Madurai

Madurai Bureau

MADURAI: Dalit leaders Thol. Tirumavalavan of the Dalit Panthers of India and K. Krishnasamy of Puthiya Tamilagam were arrested here on Sunday when they attempted to proceed to Kandadevi in Sivaganga district to participate in the annual car festival of Sri Swarnamurtheeswarar Temple. Devakottai Revenue Divisional Officer had restrained the duo, along with five other party leaders, from entering into the territories of Devakottai or Karaikudi between 6 am on July 8 and 6 am on July 15.

Though the police officials handed over a copy of the ban orders to the leaders, who were staying in different hotels in the city, they preferred to go ahead and court arrest along with a few party cadres. A huge posse of police force deployed outside the hotels arrested the cadres, including Mangalur MLA, K. Selvam of the DPI, and detained them for a day at different marriage halls.

Addressing presspersons before his arrest, Mr. Tirumavalavan said the ban order amounted to contempt of court since the Madras High Court had passed a number of judgments since 1998 directing the Government to permit all individuals, irrespective of caste and creed to pull the temple car. Adhi Tamizhar Peravai party presidium chairman C. Kuppuraj was also among over 150 Dalit activists taken into custody in Madurai and released later.