Land grab charges: Another DMK functionary Karuppaswamy Pandian arrested

TIRUNELVELI (TN): A DMK leader and his brother were arrested here today in the intensified crackdown on land grabbing by the J Jayalalithaa-led Tamil Nadu government.

Karuppaswamy Pandian, DMK Tirunelveli district secretary, and Sankarasubbu were held at their native village Tirutthu early this morning and produced before a magistrate, who remanded them in 15-days judicial custody.

Both were held by the Crime Branch of the anti-land grabbing wing on charges of illegally occupying three acres of land belonging to one Kuppiah Pandian of Naduvakurichi Village in the district, police said.

Two relatives of Karuppaswamy involved in the case were absconding, they said.

After coming to power more than three months ago, the TN government has launched a crackdown on land grabbing, putting several DMK leaders including four former ministers in jail.

The DMK has alleged that the government's action smacks of political vendetta.