Periyar’s statue smeared with paint
A statue of E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’ was found daubed with saffron hued paint at Sundarapuram in Coimbatore on Friday. A youth belonging to a fringe pro-Hindu outfit has surrendered, police said. Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, meanwhile, assured of tough action.
Leaders, cutting across party lines, condemned the desecration of Periyar statue and the CM assured strict action under the law against the culprits. Palaniswmi was answering a question from the media at Erode, where he held a few meetings at the collectorate. Fisheries minister D Jayakumar also said in Chennai that strict action would be taken against anyone found desecrating statues of political leaders.
Police said on receiving information that Periyar Dravida Kazhagam members had gathered at Sundrapuram junction early on Friday morning near the statue Periyar, a police team led by assistant commissioner Sidiq, rushed the spot. There they found saffron paint poured on the statue. Police pacified the Kazhagam members as they made an attempt to stage a protest on the spot.
Kuniyamuthoor police filed a complaint and started a probe by collecting CCTV camera footage installed in commercial outlets in the area.
Police officers investigating the case said Arun Krishnan, a Bharath Sena worker, residing in Podanur Anna Nagar, surrendered at Podnaur police station, claiming responsibility for disrespecting the statue of Periyar. Preliminary investigation revealed that Arun had committed the crime for taking revenge for the action of ‘Karuppar Koottam’ video footage.
The colour, on a portion of the statue, around the right arm and waist, was removed by Periyar’s followers with police help.
Meanwhile, DMK president M. K. Stalin, in a tweet, said “Periyar had stated that his statue was being erected on the same spot where footwear was thrown on him. He printed his photograph and gave it to those who wanted to burn his image and he lent his pen to a man asking persistent questions. That’s why he is Periyar (Big Man), who even struggled for the lowly.”