Date:06/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100605720100.htm

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AIADMK candidates seek protection

Staff Reporter

PHOTO: M. VEDHAN

ALLEGATIONS GALORE: Members of the AIADMK and MDMK at the Police Commissioner's office in Chennai to submit a memorandum.

CHENNAI: Candidates of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its ally Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, contesting the local body polls, submitted a petition to Greater Chennai City Commissioner of Police, Letika Saran, seeking adequate protection, claiming they were receiving threats from anti-social elements.

Speaking to reporters at the Commissionerate here on Thursday, AIADMK MLAs P.K.Sekarbabu, V. P. Kalairajan and senior functionary N. Balaganga alleged that after the Government released some prisoners on parole, the party functionaries were receiving threats. Anti-social elements were roaming scot-free in the city with the aim of threatening the public. Not in a mood to taste defeat, the ruling party was bent on creating panic.

Despite Election Commission guidelines, the ruling party was planning to bring in outsiders on polling day, they alleged. The police, under the guise of "preventive arrests," detained many of their cadres. They said the CoP promised to take action.

However, in a memorandum submitted to the CoP, DMK North Chennai District secretary L. Balaraman said the AIADMK planned to instigate violence during polls.