Date:01/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/01/stories/2007060108040100.htm

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8 held for bid to grab land at Besant Nagar

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Police arrested eight persons on charges of attempting to grab a residential property at the Rukmani Road-Karunanidhi Road junction in Besant Nagar on Thursday.

According to a complaint from Gomathi Ravishankar, about 40 persons entered the compound of the premises measuring nine grounds and claimed ownership of about two grounds. They put up thatched sheds despite protests from the complainant.

K. Muthulakshmi, sister of the complainant, who was attacked by the members of the gang suffered an injury and fracture in her nose. She was admitted in a private hospital in Adyar.

On information, the Tiruvanmiyur police took into custody the eight persons, who had allegedly instigated the gang to put up thatched sheds. A case of attempt to murder, rioting, trespass and being armed with deadly weapons was registered against the accused.

All the arrested persons — Babu, Arul, Ramasamy, Mani, Kalidas, Durairaj, Ganapathi and Nataraj from Teynampet, Saidapet and Thiruvanmiyur — were produced before a city court and remanded to judicial custody.

A senior police officer told The Hindu that one of the accused, Babu, claimed to have in possession a general power of attorney in his name and that he had gone there to take possession of the site. "We have to investigate the matter deeper as it involves legal implications," he said.

A police picket has been posted at the site.