'Thevar Jayanthi' passes off peacefully in Ramanathapuram

Madurai, Oct 30 (PTI) Hundreds paid homage today to freedom fighter and Thevar community leader Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on his 104th birth anniversary at a village in Ramanathapuram district amidst tight security arrangement. DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, who paid homage at the memorial in Pasumpon village, told reporters that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had promised to provide gold-plated covering for the memorial and asked "what happened" to the promise. He also criticised the Chief Minister for not visiting the memorial on the occasion of the 'Thevar Jayanthi'. From the ruling party camp, ten AIADMK ministers including Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister K P Munusamy and Corporation Minister Sellur Raju paid homage. Muvendar Munnani Kazhagam leader N Sethuraman and Muvendar Munnetra Kazhagam leader Sridhar Vandayar were among others who paid homage. About 6,000 policemen were deployed in Ramanathapuram and other southern distrists ahead of the 'Jayanthi' in light of the police firing in Paramakkudi last month, in which seven persons were killed. Police had opened fire on September 11 when a group of dalits turned violent, setting ablaze vehicles and blocking traffic following the detention of their leader, John Pandian at Vallanadu in Tuticorin district. Violence broke out after news spread that Pandian had been detained at Tuticorin en route to Paramakudi to pay homage on the death anniversary of Dalit leader Imanuel Sekar. PTI SSN ARP