VCK, BJP cadre clash at Karur

Sources said that when the General Body meeting was about to start, VCK leaders, including Karur district Traders wing organiser Kanmani Ramachandran (36), state deputy secretary Baskaran (40), district working committee organiser Mannan (34) and Youth wing organiser Viswanathan (32), attempted to enter the hall by holding their party flag and raised slogans against the BJP leaders for their comments on their Chief Thol Thirumavalavan. 

Tension prevailed at the venue and the police personnel on security dragged them out of the hall. However, the BJP members, who were alerted to the VCK cadre attempt, rushed out and manhandled the intruders. Police rescued the VCK members. 

Unrelenting BJP members pelted stones at the buses and damaged the flag post of various political parties. Kanmani Ramachandran and two others sustained severe injuries in the attack. When the police tried to move the injured VCK members to hospital, BJP men argued with the police and surrounded the vehicle and damaged it. The national party men blamed the police for being careless in providing security to the meeting, in which senior party leaders like Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and the other leaders including state unit president Tamilisai were participating. The SP later informed the agitating BJP cadre that the five VCK members were arrested. 

When the melee subsidised, the General Body meeting commenced and the BJP state president Tamilisai warned VCK members to behave or face retaliation.

Condemning the VCK for making unnecessary chaos in the BJP state General Body meeting in Karur, the youth wing of BJP burnt the effigy of the VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan in Tiruchy on Tuesday. 

After the information about the intrusion into the BJP meeting venue by five VCK cadre spread, BJP cadre staged a series of protests across the state. In Tiruchy, BJP youth wing members led by district youth wing president Gowtham assembled at the Central Bus Stand and raised slogans against the VCK and its chief Thol Thirumavalavan. They blamed the police for lax security at the meeting venue and burnt the effigy of Thirumavalavan. 

Police doused the fire and dispersed them. Meanwhile, in counter protests, VCK members staged demonstrations at Pudukkottai and Manapparai condemning the party and its state unit president. They brunt the effigy of Tamilisai Soundararajan in protest.