The
Chennai Airport Police
have registered a case against DMDMK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakant and others under six sections of the IPC and Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 based on a complaint from
Alandur Assembly constituency
's Returning Officer.
The action was taken for gathering in larger numbers and violating
Model Code of Conduct
and causing inconvenience to passengers at Chennai Airport and public on
GST Road
.
The police have booked them under Section 143 (unlawful assembly), section 147 (rioting and punishment), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), read with 34 of IPC (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and section 44 AA of Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959.
On Saturday evening, traffic was affected on the busy GST Road as cadres gathered in large numbers outside and inside Chennai Airport to welcome Premalatha who returned from New Delhi with Padma Bhushan Award for the party leader and actor Vijayakant. She got into the van, waved at the cadres and proceeded to the party office in Koyambedu.
When the police prevented the cadres from following her, a tense situation ensued. "We wanted to ensure minimum traffic problems on the GST Road. Many of them started arguing with us and some of them were even prepared to even sit on the road. One even broke a pipe with their party flag," said a police officer.
Due to this commotion, passengers who had arrived could not leave the airport and many could not enter it. The traffic on GST road and abutting stretches was also affected. "As per Election Commission rules, only 50 persons can gather to welcome the leader and only five vehicles can be used. But hundreds of them gathered," the police officer added.
Nivedhita, a resident of Pallavaram, who was on her way to T Nagar, said that it was chaotic outside the airport. "From the airport to Guindy, vehicles were moving at snail's pace. DMDK cadres with party flags and a fleet of cars were seen in this stretch. We could see a lot of policemen too," she explained.
Charles, a frequent flyer, said that there should a permanent restrictions on number of political cadre who can gather at the airport to send off or receive their leader. "Atleast the political leaders should have some common sense and instruct the cadres not to gather. It causes inconvenience to the public," he explained.
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