BJP seeks greater protection for Sangh leaders in TN

CHENNAI: BJP workers today appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for greater security for Hindu leaders given the cases of murders of senior Sangh Parivar functionaries in the state.

"We are not sure how many more (alleged killers) are there and whether they are (acting) in groups or not.

"We appeal to the CM to strengthen the police protection given to Hindu leaders," state BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan told reporters here.

BJP state general secretary V Ramesh, alias 'Auditor' Ramesh, was murdered in Salem earlier this month.

Hindu Munnani state president Vellaiyappan was among a series of Hindu leaders either killed or attacked in the past one year, party officials said.

Jayalalithaa had announced the formation of a Special Investigation Division under Crime Branch-CID to look into the killings of the above two leaders.

Describing as "unfortunate" DGP K Ramanujam's statement yesterday that not all murders or attacks had a communal motive, Radhakrishnan said the former was just repeating the reports filed by local inspectors.

Meanwhile, a report from Salem said CB-CID DGP Narendra Pal Singh has reviewed the probe into the Ramesh murder case with police officials.

The meeting, attended by, among others, CB-CID IGP Manjunatha and SP Anbu, lasted three hours.

Manjunatha told reporters after the meeting that those behind the attacks on the leaders would be caught soon.