Chennai: Tension prevailed in the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital following heated arguments between the police and Naam Tamizhar cadres over shifting the self-immolation victim Vignesh's body to Mannargudi. The City Police wanted the body to be taken to Mannargudi directly while the cadres insisted on retaining the body in the party office until Friday evening before taking it to Mannargudi.
The strength of the police force was stepped up in the hospital soon after the news of the death was delivered to the kith and kin waiting at the hospital. The party coordinator Seeman, Director V. Gowthaman, and Tamil Nadu Traders' Federation president T. Vellaiyan paid respects to Vignesh at the hospital. The body was loaded in an ambulance with an escort cop sitting in the front with the driver insisting that the driver take it directly to Mannargudi. The party cadres who had gathered to see Vignesh objected to the move. The cadres blocked the ambulance path and the driver was dragged out of his cabin and a party cadre took control of the wheel.
P.R. Pandian, coordinator of the Tamil Nadu All Farmers' Federations, who came to pay his respect, charged the cops with having manipulated the protesters against the State while the bandh call was made against Karnataka government and seeking measures to ensure Cauvery water for the Delta farmers. The impasse was brought to an end after the intervention of senior police officers. The cops who were guarding the ambulance stood down and the cadres subsequently allowed the driver to take the wheel. The body was kept at the party's Valasaravakkam office until Friday evening.
