Koodankulam stir: Besiege bid foiled, 1,800 held

An attempt to besiege the State Secretariat by various political parties on Monday was foiled even before the protesters could take out a rally from Rajarathinam Stadium, Egmore. Chieftains of various political outfits were arrested during the protest, which was organised in solidarity with Anti-Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) agitations.

Political parties like MDMK, VCK and MMK, had chalked out plans to besiege Fort St George seeking the closure of KKNPP. People from Koodankulam, Idinthakarai, Vairavikkinaru and Perumanal were stopped by the Tirunelveli police on Sunday night while they attempted to leave for Chennai.

In the city, the roads leading to Police Commissioner’s office, Rajarathinam Stadium and other important carriageways were cordoned off with barricades.Vaiko charged that the grid to supply power to Lanka had been completed. VCK chief Thirumavalavan, Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) chief T Velmurugan, MMK president H M Jawahirullah and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam chief Kolathur Mani spoke at the rally.

As many as 17 political parties and anti-nuclear organisations, including PUCL and May 17 Movement, took part in the stir. Vaiko, Nedumaran Held

Around 1,800 agitators were arrested on Monday thwarting their plans to lay a siege on the State Assembly protesting against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant. The arrested included anti-nuclear activists, leaders and cadre of various political parties.

At the Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, nearly 1,400 agitators were picked up by the police when they marched to the Secretariat. Notable among them were MDMK’s Vaiko, VCK leader and MP Thirumavalavan, TVK leader T Velmurugan, MMK president Jawaharullah and pro-Tamil leader Nedumaran.

Police picked up 400 cadre of Naam Thamizhar Iyakkam, led by film director-cum-politician Seeman. Some 150 traffic police staff  were assigned for duty in and around Marshalls Road where protest took place.