Begin typing your search...

    Goondas Act being misused, allege activists

    Activists in the city have alleged that that police seem to be exploiting various provisions of the Goondas Act, making it almost a draconian law to handle fellow activists, who protest on issues concerning the public.

    Goondas Act being misused, allege activists
    X
    Representative Image

    Chennai

    The argument that the city police had put forward to detain activists, K Thirumurugan Gandhi, D Arun Kumar, M Dyson and Jagan alias Ilamaran, under the Goondas Act were found to be flimsy and undemocratic, they alleged.

    However, city police say that these activists were trouble-makers and have the potential to disrupt public order. “They did disrupt public order on the Marina. They damaged the bus and vehicles. There were several such cases registered against all the four earlier and they have the potential to do it again,” Commissioner of Police AK Viswanathan, while defending the decision to detain these activists under Goondas Act, told DTNext

    Police claimed that Thirumurugan had 21 cases, but all of them were recorded under Sections 143, 188 (unlawful assembly) of the CrPC and 151 (preventive arrests). These were the sections police use to arrest and remove protesters. 

    In the case of Thirumurugan and three others, police seem to have gone a step ahead and detained them under the Goondas Act. 

    Goondas Act could be used against anyone who creates a law and order problem and disturbs public order, Viswanathan said.

    Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

    Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

    Click here for iOS

    Click here for Android

    migrator
    Next Story