AIADMK MLAs loyal to Dinakaran say Tamil Nadu police being used to intimidate them

For more than a week, rebel AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to TTV Dhinakaran have been sequestered in Paddington resort in Kushalnagar in Karnataka's Coorg district.

On Sunday, the MLAs decided to visit Talacauvery, the birth place of the contentious river Cauvery. From there, the MLAs visited the famous Abbey falls nearby.

Dr S Muthiah, one of the MLAs, told India Today that the group was "very happy" and in a "pleasant" mood during their trip.

However, their joy was short-lived. On their way back from the Abbey falls, the MLAs were intercepted men who claimed to be police from Tamil Nadu.

The MLAs say that the men, who were in plainclothes, harassed them and threatened them with dire consequences if they did not switch sides to the Paliniswami-Panneerselvam camp of the AIADMK.   

Senior MLA Thangamtamilselvam, on reaching the Paddington resort late in the evening, expressed anger claiming that the police was being misused by the Paliniswami-Panneerselvam camp.

India Today was able to confirm that the MLAs had indeed been accosted by personnel from the Tamil Nadu police.

A police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, admitted that Tamil Nadu police had intercepted the MLAs, but refused to reveal more, saying these were official matters.

Incidentally, sources have told India Today that 21 policemen, including senior officers from the Central Crime branch, are presently in Kushalnagar, where the MLAs' resort is located.

Notably, this is not the first time the MLAs have alleged harassment at the hands of Tamil Nadu police.

On September 13, one of the MLAs, V Senthil Balaji, filed a complaint with the Suntikoppa police, demanding action against certain police officers.

In his complaint, Balaji claimed the officers were illegally threatening the rebel MLAs with dire consequences if they did not switch loyalties.