Social activist ‘Traffic’ K.R. Ramaswamy on Saturday staged a protest near the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) office, Idhaya Deivam Maaligai, demanding removal of banners.
According to sources, Mr. Ramaswamy reached the Avinashi Road-Huzur Road Junction around 10 a.m. asking for removal of banners placed there. On hearing about his demands, police personnel went there and removed two banners at the junction and also a few more that were erected in front of the AIADMK office on Huzur Road.
Later, Mr. Ramaswamy demanded that he wanted two banners that were placed at the entrance of AIADMK office also to be removed. As the police personnel showed reluctance, he squatted at the place saying that he would not budge until the banners are removed.
Two Assistant Commissioners of Police and other present there reasoned with him that those banners were at the entrance of the party office and were erected because a meeting of the office bearers of the Coimbatore rural unit of the party was under way.
As Mr. Ramaswamy continued to protest, the police tried to move him away from the place but he forcefully remained at the place.
Speaking to journalists, the activist said the police had failed in their duty to remove the banners, which the Madras High Court had ruled were illegal. The case regarding illegal banners was coming up the Court on Tuesday and then he would make a mention before the court for initiation of contempt proceedings.
He was also proceeding to airport and Thudiyalur to have the illegal banners removed.
As he continued to squat on the road, protesting, the Police with the help of a few others removed him from the scene.