Cauvery dispute protests | live updates: Seeman, Bharathiraja, Thamimun Ansari detained

Hundreds of supporters of Tamil Nadu political outfits such as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi (TVK), Naam Tamilar Katchi, Tamilar Ezhuchi Iyakkam (TEI) and other groups gathered around Wallajah Road, Anna Salai, Ellis Road and Bells Road in Chennai on Tuesday evening in an attempt to move towards the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, where an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match is scheduled late in the evening, to protest against the conduct of the match amid the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka.

The protest threw traffic out of gear in the area.

Protesters lathi charged

Tension prevailed on Wallajah Road, which leads to the Chepauk stadium. Activists of Naam Thamizhar Katchi and Manitha Neya Jananayaga Katchi were lathi charged around 6 pm as they tried to break the police cordon. Some of them were injured and the agitators squatted on Walajah Road.

Nam Thamizhar Katchi leader Seeman, SDPI leaders, MLAs Thamim Ansari, U. Thaniarasu and Karunas, Tamilnadu Farmers Federation president P.R.Pandian led the procession after they broke the police cordon near Anna Salai.

Film directors Bharathiraja, Seeman, Ameer, Ram, Vetrimaran and MLA Thamin Ansari have been detained. Protesters are being arrested and taken away by police near Triplicane police station.

Members of Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi stage a protest on April 10, 2018, outside the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, ahead of a Indian Premier League cricket match, over the Cauvery water issue.   | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Rajeev Shukla speaks to Home Secretary

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla sought intervention of the Centre for smooth conduct of Chennai Super Kings matches, news agency PTI reported. Mr. Shukla met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, requesting him to ensure security arrangements for uninterrupted hosting of the matches.

“I met the Union Home Secretary (Rajiv Gauba) requesting him to ensure that IPL matches in Chennai are conducted smoothly. The Home Secretary spoke to DGP (Tamil Nadu) and asked him to ensure that there are no security issues for the fans,” Congress leader and senior BCCI official Mr. Shukla told PTI.

The home secretary also assured the IPL chairman that foolproof security will be provided for all the matches in Chennai, a home ministry official told PTI.

150 arrested near Chepauk area

The Chennai city police on Tuesday arrested around 150 members from VCK after they gathered near Bells Road, Triplicane, around 3 pm.

In addition, 10 members of the TVK were arrested when they attempted to enter the stadium.

Around 30 activists of TVK gathered near Ellis Road with black balloons, but police surrounded them, not allowing them to raise them. Around 15 members squatted on the Walajah Road. Police evicted them and bundled them into police van.

The cadre of SDPI suddenly descended on Anna Salai, holding flags and placards, leaving the police unable to control the crowd.

Director Bharathiraja and poet Vairamuthu also joined the protestors.

Protests erupt in Alwarpet

Tamilaga Ezhuchi Iyakkam staging a demonstration on T.T.K. Road   | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

 

Members of the political outfit Tamilar Ezhachi Iyakkam staged protests in the route the cricket players are scheduled to take to head to the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. They protested along T.T.K Road and the R.K. Salai junction.

Threats to disrupt IPL

This comes within a week after TVK leader T. Velmurugan threatened to disrupt the IPL match and ‘capture’ the IPL players. On Tuesday, party cadres alighted from Chepauk MRTS railway station and tried to enter the stadium through the main gate with black flags. Police personnel stopped them and took them into custody.

Following a boycott call by several political parties and fringe groups over the Cauvery water dispute, the police had tightened security around the stadium.

Elaborate security

Under the direct supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police M.C.Sarangan, three joint commissioners and 13 deputy police commissioners, elaborate security was provided to the venue and the hotels where the players are staying.

Over 4,000 police personnel, including city police, armed reserve and elite commando groups, were deployed at the two places on Tuesday morning.

"We have taken all measures to maintain law and order and ensure the match is held in a peaceful manner. The spectators will be allowed inside the stadium only after thorough frisking," a senior police official said.