Chennai: A City Court on Monday extended remand of Tamil activist Thirumurugan Gandhi, founder of the May 17 Movement, up to July 24. The police detained him under Goondas Act recently.
In May, Saidapet, Egmore, Royapettah and Nungambakkam police arrested Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tamilar Vidyal Katchi functionaries Tyson, Jegan alias Ilamaran, Arunkumar and 13 others for staging a protest at the Marina beach in memory of Tamils who were killed in war between Sri Lankan government and the erstwhile Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. They were detained ijn Puzhal prison.
The cops detained Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tyson, Jegan and Arunkumar under Goondas Act. In November last year, the Nungambakkam police registered case against him for staging a demonstration opposing the demonetisation policy introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
The cops alleged that though they had not granted permission to use a public address system, he used it during the agitation at Valluvar Kottam condemning the Centre's action. When the matter came up for hearing before XIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore at Allikulam, the police produced him before the judge, who extended his remand up to July 24.
Speaking to reporters at the court complex on Monday, Thirumurugan Gandhi condemned the government for the police attack against the people for staging demonstrations against the ONGC pipelines in Kadiramangalam.
The police also slapped cases against people who staged demonstrations against hydrocarbon and methane projects. This proves that the state government has been functioning as a stooge of the Central Government. "We will stage a protest in the prison against anti-people policies of the central government,” he said.
