MDMK chief Vaiko, along with some supporters, was arrested by the police when he attempted to lay a siege on the Poonnamallee Special Refugee Camp seeking the closure of both the Poonnamallee and the Chengalpattu Special Refugee Camps, in the city on Tuesday.
He addressed a gathering of MDMK cadres, May 17 Movement, Tamizhaga Makkal Urimai Kazhagam and other pro-Tamil outfits that expressed their solidarity with the hunger stir of Lankan Tamil Refugee Senthuran, who had been on an indefinite fast since Aug 6.
Vaiko insisted that the State should take adequate action to alleviate the sufferings of the Lankan refugees in the State. He reiterated that both the special camps should be closed down permanently citing the turmoil in these two camps. He attempted to go out on a procession to lay a siege on the Poonamallee camp. He was subsequently picked up by the police. A local branch secretary of MDMK, Chellakani, doused himself with kerosene and threatened to set himself afire before being overpowered by the policemen. He was also arrested. A section of the MDMK cadres resorted to road blockade which disrupted traffic on the Sriperumbudur-Poonnamallee stretch. They, too, were arrested.
Sources inside the camp told Express that the condition of Senthuran was fast deteriorating and the time sought by the revenue officials had expired.
Vaiko and his supporters were lodged in a marriage hall after their arrested before being released later in the evening.
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