Ramadoss held, bus torched in Uthangarai

PMK founder S Ramadoss was arrested here on Tuesday for trying to participate in a demonstration — which had no police sanction — organised by his party to condemn VCK and its leader Thol Thirumavalavan on the recent Marakkanam violence. Along with Ramadoss, Gingee MLA Ganeshkumar was also arrested.

Three days ago, Ramadoss had announced the demonstration at Villupuram. On Monday night, the police refused to grant permission for the demonstration. However, hundreds of PMK cadre gathered near the railway junction here around 11 am awaiting his arrival.

Ramadoss started from his residence at Thailapuram and travelled to Villupuram along with party president G K Mani. However, the police stopped his vehicle ahead of the protest venue and arrested him. He was later remanded.

Meanwhile, Villupuram Collector V Sampath invoked section 144 in the district. MDMK general secretary Vaiko and his party followers, proceeding to visit victims of the Marakkanam violence, were stopped when they reached Kaippani on the East Coast Road, citing section 144 that was in force.

In a related development, a group of six persons intercepted a TNSTC bus on the outskirts of Uthangarai in Dharmapuri district around 9 pm and started pelting stones on the vehicle. Later, they asked all the passengers to alight and set the bus on fire, police sources said. The group raised pro-PMK slogans, the police said.

The Uthangarai police have taken 20 people into custody for inquiry in connection with the incident.