Vaiko, Left, VCK flay NSA on Velmurugan

He said it was done following pressure from the Union government. He also said the young leader would break the NSA case and come back with vigour and courage to fight the rights of Tamils. After he was stopped from visiting the people affected by police firing in Thoothukudi, Velmurugan was detained in a hall without food and water, the MDMK leader alleged.

Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi too has demanded his release. The leaders hit out at the government stating that it is trying to suppress the voice of those who stage protests for the cause of public by slapping false cases.

The CPI has strongly expressed condemnation over the arrest. R Mutharasan, party state secretary, said “When Velmurugan was trying to visit the Thoothukudi firing victims the police prevented him and charged him with various false cases.”

Condemning police excess, the former PMK MLA observed a hunger strike in the jail and he was admitted to the Government Stanley Medical College hospital. “Under such circumstances, the police again filed a case due to provocative speech in a meeting at Neyveli and arrested him.”

“This is a clear indication that the government is working hand in glove with police department to arrest Velmurugan by slapping NSA,” Mutharasan said, urging the state to release Velmurugam without conditions.

Similarly, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, termed the case against Velmurugan as ‘false’. “We strongly condemn such atrocity and the government should withdraw the cases against him. Further, the government has been trying to instill the sense of fear among the public,” he blamed. The state government should clearly explain as to why NAS was slapped against Velmurugan, he said.