Chennai: The leaders of various political parties condemned the attack on the residence of the expelled AIADMK functionary Karuppaiah here and said that the government should take action against those responsible for attacking the senior citizens house.
“The state is undergoing intolerance and the freedom of speech is curtailed,” Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said.
Karuppaiah, who represented the Harbour Assembly Constituency was sacked from the ruling AIADMK by party supremo and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Jan. 27 for anti-party activities.
The following day, he resigned from the Assembly membership. Various political party leaders including DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, MDMK chief Vaiko, TMC founder G.K. Vasan, TNCC president E.V.K.S. Elangovan, the BJP and the Left party condemned the attack.
Three held for attack on Karuppaiah’s house
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on the house of Pala. Karuppaiah, who resigned as an MLA, on Besant Road, Royapettah, here on Friday night. The miscreants came in an autorickshaw.
The former legislator’s SUV, parked in the compound, was damaged. Only the front windshield was spared.
Police said Karuppaiah’s son Arumugam was working on his computer when he heard stones being pelted around 10.45 pm.
He bundled Karuppaiah in a safe room and put out all lights. Arumugam’s attempt to talk to the miscreants was in vain.
They threw more stones. In the mean time, he alerted the control room. The attackers hurled verbal abuses and left the scene in the three-wheeler.
Karuppaiah who returned home around 9.30 pm after attending a debate on a private channel, heaved a sigh of relief only after police arrived.
When an inquiry was underway, a patrol vehicle picked up the registration number of the autorickshaw with the help of neighbours. The three-wheeler which was going round in the neighbourhood was intercepted. The trio was identified by Arumugam who had seen them. Police gave the names of the arrested as Radhakrishnan, Ramu, and Arun.
