Two Hindu outfit workers charged under Goondas Act for defacing Periyar statue in Tamil Nadu
Two Hindu Munnani workers who were arrested by Tamil Nadu police for allegedly defacing a Periyar statue have been charged under the Goondas Act.
Two Hindu Munnani workers who were arrested by Tamil Nadu police for allegedly defacing and garlanding a Periyar statue with slippers have been charged under the Goondas Act.
The two accused have been identified as V Arun Karthik and V Mohanraj, both residents of Vellalore in Coimbatore. The duo had allegedly smeared the face of the statue with saffron powder.
The incident occurred on January 8 when a statue of Periyar EV Ramasamy, a social reformer and founder of the Dravidian movement, at Vellalore was defaced. The incident came to light the following day, on January 9.
A statement issued by the Coimbatore police said the provisions of the Goondas Act were slapped on the duo on January 17 as instructed by Coimbatore Police commissioner Pradeep Kumar and the two were lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.
The incident had caused widespread anger with Dravida Kazhakam (DK) and Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) leading the protest.
READ | Miscreants desecrate Periyar statue in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore