Indian Congressmen burn Prabhakaran in effigy

(November, 27, Tiruchy, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tension prevailed at the office of the Tiruchy Urban District Congress Committee (TDCC) here on Monday as a group of partymen staged a demonstration demanding the arrest of MDMK general secretary Vaiko for extending support to the LTTE, a banned outfit, and burnt LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran in effigy to register their protest.

A section of Congressmen, who assembled in front of Arunachala Mandram, the party’s urban district office, staged a demonstration and raised slogans against those extending support to the LTTE.

They also pelted stones to record their protest, besides demanding the arrest of Vaiko. The demonstrators were led by the party’s urban district president Jerome Arockiaraj.

The demonstrators then took out a rally and attempted to picket buses by squatting on the road and the police, who had been deployed there, had a tough time handling them, leading to a tussle between the demonstrators and the police.

Later, the demonstrators burnt Prabhakaran in effigy. However, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam district secretary Rajendran, who arrived there, raised slogans against the demonstrators and distributed handbills and pamphlets in support of the LTTE.

This triggered tension in the area. Subsequently, the police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajasekaran, arrested him.