Rajiv case: 350 arrested for attempting to stage picketing

COIMBATORE: About 350 activists including college students and workers of various political parties were arrested today for allegedly attempting to stage picketing at the railway station and Central government offices in the city, demanding cancellation of death sentence to the three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The activists, belonging to various political parties including MDMK, PMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Naam Tamilar Katchi, marched towards the city railway station as part of their plan to block trains. However, police said they were prevented from entering the premises and arrested.

Though a few workers managed to break the tight security cordon and squatted on the railway track, they were also arrested, police said.

Two batches of Government Law College students and students of some other colleges attempted to stage picketing in front of Regional Passport Office and Income Tax Office, but were taken into custody, police said.

Some activists raised slogans against the Central Government and urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa to take steps to commute the death sentence of Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan, who are undergoing prison term for the past 20 years.

Elaborate security arrangements were made in and around the city, following the decision of the activists to picket Central government offices.

Meanwhile, three persons belonging to Dalit Viduthalai Katchi were arrested, when they attempted to stage a rail roko at the railway station in nearby Tirupur, police added.