Date:16/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081616520300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Two persons sneak into Secretariat

Staff Reporter

Cause a flutter at flag hoisting function

CHENNAI: Two young men dressed in khaki sneaked into the "high security" Secretariat complex on Tuesday at around 7 a.m., an hour before the scheduled Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Police said the two — Kannan (23) and Sriram (21) of Puzhuthivakkam, Ullagaram — were brothers, and posing as officers gained entry into the sterile area under the guise of being on bandobust duty.

However, the drama came to an end when three policemen found Sriram's behaviour suspicious and brought it to the attention of their officers.

It is reported that Sriram had merely accompanied his elder brother Kannan to the Secretariat. Though the brothers were in khaki uniform, a policeman spotted Sriram wearing a coloured shirt underneath the khaki, which aroused suspicion.

They were immediately whisked away for questioning.

A senior officer said a case of impersonation was already pending against Kannan, who had allegedly cheated many people by posing as a police officer in the city two years ago.

The two brothers are reported to be educated.

The DCP (Flower Bazaar), Choodeswaran, said cases have been registered under Sections 170, 171 and 420 IPC against the two, who have been remanded to custody.