Protesters, supporters clash ahead of CM's Srirangam visit

TRICHY: Tension prevailed in Trichy as members of the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhangm attempted to show a black flag to chief minister Jayalalithaa for taking severe action against the anti-Kudankulam nuke plant protestors. In a clash between the protestors and the AIADMK supporters, two of the protestors were injured. The police arrested 18 protestors including seven women and remanded them in judicial custody.
Security had been beefed up in the city ahead of the CM's visit to Trichy to participate in the welfare measure distribution function in Srirangam constituency and to inaugurate the day long annadanam scheme in the Srirangam Ranganathasamy temple on Thursday. Police personnel from the neighbouring districts were also deployed in addition to the Trichy police to strengthen security.
However, the unexpected attempt to protest by members of the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam led to a commotion. As many as 20 persons, including women from the outfit, converged near the TVS toll gate on Chennai by-pass road in Trichy with black flags a few minutes before the chief minister's convoy passed the area to reach the function venue in Srirangam. Meanwhile, a group of AIADMK supporters awaiting their leader's arrival became aware of the scene and entered into heated arguments with the protestors even though the police were trying to arrest them. The argument escalated into violence as the AIADMK supporters started pelting stones at the protestors. Two women protestors were injured in the clash and tension prevailed in the area for about 20 minutes. Eventually, the police arrested 18 persons including seven women. There were also two infants taken along with their mothers, said the police.
The Cantonment police registered case against them under sections 143, 153(b), 188, 353 and 506(i) of IPC. All of them were produced in the court and remanded in the Trichy central prison. The chief minister's convoy reached the function venue late by half an hour.