Stalin slams CM for attacks on TASMAC protesters

Condemning the “indiscriminate lathi-charge on women,” who were protesting to remove the TASMAC shop in the village of Azhinchikkuppam near Ambur in Vellore district, Stalin said the recurring, indiscriminate highhandedness against women made him wonder if the department was under the control of the DGP or if the Chief Minister was least concerned about the heavy-handed actions of the police. 

Accusing the AIADMK regime of going back on its promise of enforcing calibrated prohibition, Stalin blamed the ruling dispensation with unleashing unspeakable violence on women in the form of lathi-charge and containing protests through violence, which was anti-democratic.

Referring to reported custodial deaths, Kodanad murder and life threat issued to accused in the case, the Leader of Opposition said the incidents made one wonder if the “otherwise efficient Tamil Nadu police are wobbling in mid-sea like a ship without a Captain.” 

Pointing to vacancy at various levels in the state police and single officer holding multiple posts, Stalin attributed, “The systematic deterioration of state police over the past 6 years to lack of initiative on the part of AIADMK government in bringing senior officers with necessary leadership to effectively mentor inspectors and DSPs, who are working hard on ground to maintain the law and order situation.”

Trusting violence and Sec.144 as means to deal with democratic protests is setting a wrong precedence among law enforcement officers. “It is appalling that the government is not prepared to educate the department that it is inhumane and an act of blatant trampling of Human rights to use indiscriminate lathi-charge and physical handling of women who are protesting,” Stalin charged. 

He added that before the government fills the vacancies, the norm of single person handling multiple duties must go.