Desecration of Periyar statues in Chennai, Tirupur riles parties

The incident took place around 9 am, when VCK leader Thol Tirumavalavan came there to garland the statue. The miscreant, who was later identified as Jagadeesan (32), a lawyer from Ekkaduthangal, came in a two-wheeler and hurled his footwear at the statue and shouted slogans. 

Jagadeesan was nabbed and assaulted by the VCK supporters. However, the police intervened and arrested him. They took him to a police station. 

In the immediate aftermath, Tirumavalavan and his supporters staged an agitation condemning the incident. They agreed to disperse from the spot after the police assured them of prompt action against Jagadeesan. 

Police said Jagadeesan, who reportedly supported the BJP, was on his way to court when he indulged in the act. 

“He was arrested under various IPC sections including 153 A (promoting enmity on the grounds of religion), 504 (intentional insult with intention to provoke breach of peace) and 294 B (uttering obscene word in public places). He is being remanded in judicial custody,” said an officer attached to the Chintadripet police. 

Additional police personnel were deployed near the Periyar statues in Vepery and Anna flyover in the city.

In another incident, unidentified persons placed a pair of footwear atop the Periyar statue at Dharapuram in Tirupur district. They also damaged the statue, triggering tension in the district.

The six-foot-high bronze statue, installed by the Dravidar Kazhagam at ‘Theevuthidal’ (Island Grounds), was unveiled by DMK leader MK Stalin in 2008. The statue was painted afresh and kept ready for the celebrations on Monday.

The members of various rationalist outfits, who came to garland the statue in the morning, were left shocked by the incident. Subsequently, several Dravidar Kazhagam and DMK cadre gathered at the spot and raised slogans condemning the incident. On receiving information, the police rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators. 

The Tirupur police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. Following the incident, a large contingent of police personnel were deployed to protect the Periyar statues in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts. 

Periyar statues at Gandhipuram, Sundarapuram, Kuniamuthur, Aathupalam, Vellalore and Puliakulam in Coimbatore district are under police survelliance.