Activists Still in Jail For Pulling Down Jayalalithaa’s Hoardings

Police officers said that the activists were arrested for damaging “public property”.
The News Minute
India
Updated:
Chennai police officers are seen here, with a poster of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha, in the background. (Photo: Reuters)  
Chennai police officers are seen here, with a poster of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha, in the background. (Photo: Reuters)  
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Three activists of Arappor Iyakkam, an NGO, are still in Chennai’s Puzhal Central Prison for pulling down the banners and hoardings of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on TTK Road on Thursday.

Activists Jayaram Venkatesan, Chandra Mohan and Athher Ahmed were arrested after a tussle with AIADMK members and produced at a city court, which remanded them to 15 days judicial custody, according to The Times of India.

Police officers said that the activists were arrested for damaging “public property”. Mylapore inspector Sam Vincent said the party had taken permission from the Chennai collector before putting up the hoardings.

In 2008, the Madras High Court and Supreme Court had banned hoardings in the city and only allowed putting those up after official clearance. 

The activists were arrested at 12:30 pm on Thursday and kept in Abiramapuram police station till 4:30 pm, later taken to the Mylapore police station and reached Puzhal jail around 11 pm. A R Ramiah, a fellow activist, alleged that the activists were not given any food or allowed to speak to their family members. He further said that they will apply for bail on Monday.

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Published: 04 Jan 2016,02:17 PM IST

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