Seeman’s arrest draws media attention in Tamil Nadu

The arrest by a special team of Chennai police of Seeman, a popular film director and leader of Naam Thamizhar movement at Chepauk in Chennai Monday night along with thirteen of his supporters have drawn the attention of the media in Tamil Nadu including The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle and Expressbuzz.com. The gruesome way the Tamil Nadu fisherman Sellappan was beaten to death by the Sri Lanka Navy on 09 July had provoked strong reactions in Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka Navy has killed 537 Tamil Nadu fishermen either by shooting or beating to death, according to Mr. Seeman.

Mr. Seeman in a write-up sent to media before his arrest said his speech was in response to the murder of Tamil fisherman, increasing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka as part of a programme ‘encircling India’ against its security concerns and the continuing genocide programme of the Sri Lankan state against Eezham Tamils.

Meanwhile, The Hindu Tuesday said that, “According to police sources, a case was registered against Mr. Seeman by the North Beach police for making an inflammatory speech on Saturday at a demonstration organised to condemn the attack on Tamil fishermen, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

“Mr. Seeman was charged under the provisions of Section 153 (A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the IPC,” The Hindu said.

Besides, Deccan Chronicle Tuesday said that Seeman was arrested amidst high drama at Chennai press club.

Expressbuzz.com reported that, “Amid chaotic scenes that went on for about 20 minutes, police arrested Naam Thamizhar Party founder Seeman as he was entering the Chennai Press Club to brief media on the continued killings of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan forces, here on Monday.”

It further said that, “Meanwhile, tension prevailed on Wallajah Road, near the press club, after the policemen posted to arrest Seeman manhandled the media personnel who were there to cover the event. Policemen manhandled a few photographers and television cameramen while they were covering the arrest and even a few were pushed by the men-in-khaki for ‘obstruction.”

Mr. Seeman had said in the earlier mentioned statement before his arrest that, "If I try to point this (the killings of Indian fishermen) out and condemn this breach of duty, I run the risk of being accused of promoting separatism and acting against the sovereignty of India. Also, needless to mention that the Tamil Nadu administration is desperately trying to file bogus court actions against me and arrest me on this pretext. The fact that Duraimurugan, the minister of justice in Tamil Nadu, is trying to threaten us by saying that he could pass new repressive laws so as to take ‘appropriate action’ against us, raises many doubts in our minds."

"Although we will never stoop to such a level of stupidity as to expect anything from the present [Tamil Nadu] administration ever parallel to what MGR and Indira Gandhi did, what we may expect from the leaders at present is that at least they should refrain from obstructing those who would like to help the desperate Tamils, particularly the Tamil fishermen," Mr. Seeman further said in his statement.

[Full Coverage]

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