Panel inspects Kovai jallikattu stir venues

Rajeswaran and his team during the inquiry inspected the places where the protests were held and incidents of violence took place. The panel also conducted a preliminary enquiry with the police. 

After visiting the VOC Grounds that was the main venue of the protes in Coimbatore, the judge told reporters that he would soon begin inquiring the riot victims and also probe into the police assault, from the first week of March. Conveying that there was three months’ time for the committee to submit its report to the government, he hinted that it long exercise. 

Stating that he was now observing the places where the incidents had taken place and to get the police version of the incidents, he said that a court of inquiry for the commission was getting ready at Chennai. Once the court was ready, inquiry with the protesters, victims, representatives of the media and witnesses would commence. 

Chennai would be covered in the first round of inquiry followed by Coimbatore in the subsequent round. He said public would be intimated about the inquiry dates five days in advance, through notifications in the newspapers. 

Earlier in the day, the committee began its inspection with a visit to the VOC Grounds where the protests took place. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) S Lakshmi explained in sequence the protests and how violence erupted at the end of the peaceful demonstrations. 

Claiming that four cops were injured in stone pelting incidents at Gandhipuram, she handed over a detailed report with photograph evidence on the turn of events. 

Coimbatore Collector TN Hariharan accompanied the inquiry committee, which visited Gandhipuram and the CODISSIA grounds in Coimbatore before heading to Salem. 

Rajeswaran said that after completing the exercise at Salem, the panel would hold a preliminary inquiry at Madurai on Friday. 

National council member of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) S Balamurugan requested the committee to ensure that there was no police interference when the victims of the police assault recorded their statements before the panel.so be allowed to share their observations with the committee, in support of the victims,” he added.