2,000 DMK members held during anti-Sri Lanka protest
By IANSWednesday, February 16, 2011
CHENNAI - More than 2,000 DMK members, including MPs and legislators, protesting the arrest of 106 Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka were arrested here Wednesday to prevent a march to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission.
Among those arrested were Rajya Sabha MP Kanimohzi, also daughter of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and Lok Sabha MP T.K.S. Elangovan.
Carrying placards and shouting slogans against Sri Lanka, DMK workers had assembled near Nageswara Park in Luz area to take out a procession towards the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission here.
Condemning the arrests of fishermen that took place Tuesday night, Kanimozhi said attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka continued despite several steps taken by the Tamil Nadu and the central governments.
She demanded the immediate release of the detained fishermen.
According to DMK party officials, the call for agitation was given Tuesday night after hearing about the arrest of 106 fishermen from Nagapattinam area by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The fisherman hailing form Akkaraipettai and Keechankuppam villages had gone fishing on Feb 12 and did not return home.
The Indian fishermen came to know about the arrest when they had called their Sri Lankan counterparts.
Fishermen in the Nagapattinam area also did not venture into the seas Wednesday to protest the arrests.
