Marina protesters deny role in violence, say it was pre-planned

Images show masked men who appear to have come armed with petrol bombs and sticks engaged in a face-off with the police in Royapettah and Triplicane. However, there was no violence reported at the Marina where a majority of protesters had gathered. Sources, who did not want to be named, informed that key people who had been orchestrating the Marina movement, were asked to back out of the protest, and leave the beach. 

Despite staying put at Marina, the protesters continued their non-violent stance. “At Marina, not a single person retaliated, despite the police using force. The stone-pelting and burning took place in other parts of the city,” said Kirubakaran, a student who had been camping at Marina since day one of the protest. 

A senior IAS officer confirmed to DTNext that there were instructions that the protesters be cleared by Republic Day, hence the police came prepared in large numbers. Several videos surfaced on social media showing men in khaki setting fire to an auto and some garbage bins. 

The Commissioner of Police held a press conference late in the evening where he claimed the videos were morphed and said an investigation would be held into the charges of police violence.