Chennai: Tension prevailed near the AIADMK’s party headquarters on Avvai Shanmugam Salai at Royapettah on Wednesday after cadres entered into a heated argument with social activist Traffic Ramaswamy. It’s believed that Ramaswamy was attempting to remove banners put up by the party members, celebrating the acquittal of their general secretary J. Jayalalithaa. According to police sources, a group gheraoed the 82-year-old man near the Cathedral road-Binny road junction when they spotted him approaching the banners.
“The group warned him of dire consequences if he touched the banners. An argument soon ensued and both parties hurled abuses at each other,” a police officer said. However, cops on security detail immediately rushed to the spot and brought the situation down under control. “Ramaswamy was evicted from the spot to prevent further tension,” police sources said. But a few hours after the incident, a member from the AIADMK women’s wing, Amudha, approached the Royapettah police station claiming that Ramaswamy had threatened her. Police sources said the cops pacified the woman and sent her back without registering a case.
It must be noted that the city police had received flak from the Madras high court for an early morning arrest of the activist two months ago.The 82-year-old man was held for allegedly threatening a man on Alagappa road at Purasawalkam. Ramaswamy was removing banners and hoardings along Alagappa road when a hotel owner, Veerasamy, stepped out of his vehicle and had a quarrel with the activist. Veerasamy then registered a complaint with the Vepery police alleging threats from Ramaswamy. The activist was later arrested and sent to Puzhal prison.
