CPI cadres held for bid to hoist flag in village

By The HINDU

Sivagangai March 5. Police arrested 115 CPI cadres when they attempted to hoist party flag in a Dalit colony at Chinna Kannanur near Manamadurai on Monday.

The caste Hindus imposed ban on political parties and flags in the village last year, fearing that political differences would lead to violence. But the CPI opposed the ban, saying that

it was against the spirit of democracy and fundamental rights.

The Sivagangai district unit of the party decided to defy the ban and announced that it would hoist the party flag in the village.

Hence, the police promulgated orders under Sec. 30 (2) of the Tamil Nadu Police Act which prohibited processions and public gatherings sans prior permission.

Meanwhile, 115 CPI volunteers, led by the district secretary, P. L. Ramachandran, and the former MLA, K.Thangamani, tried to hoist the flag.

But the police arrested them under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 188 (disobedience prohibitory orders) of the IPC and 7 (1) A (conspiracy) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. All cadres were produced before the Manamadurai judicial magistrate II, who remanded them to custody. They were lodged in the Tiruchi Central Prison.

According to the CPI (M)'s Sivagangai district secretary, Arjunan, a Dalit youth, was attacked by caste Hindus during a village festival on September 11, 2001.

The mob also brought down the flags of almost all political parties. Police had failed to take action against those who damaged the flag masts.

Preventing cadres from hoisting the flag was against all democratic norms. He demanded immediate release of the arrested.

Nallakannu condemnation

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

The CPI State secretary, R. Nallakannu, today demanded the release of the partymen. Condemning the `undemocratic act' of the police, he said the partymen had been booked under non-bailable sections. The cases must be withdrawn immediately, he said.