Search the Internet          Tips

Vaiko's residence-cum-party HQ raided

N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai

Armed with a court warrant, the anti-terrorist 'Q' branch personnel of the Tamil Nadu police on Thursday raided the residence-cum-party headquarters of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, now detained in the Vellore Central Prison under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The raid comes a day after the POTA Special Court at Poonamallee extended Vaiko's remand till September 4.

In all 12 raids were carried out, including some on the residences of other MDMK activists in custody. The police have seized some audio tapes, videocassettes, pamphlets and income tax statements from Vaiko's residence and party office in Chennai.

A 'Q' branch team of Tamil Nadu police also went to the New Delhi residence of Vaiko, an MP, but did not raid it, Delhi Police sources said.

The raids in Chennai, which started at 0750 hours, were completed at 1345 hours.

The city police was out in large numbers during the raids to maintain law and order.

Talking to reporters at the Chennai party office on Thursday evening, the MDMK spokesman Nanmaran claimed that 'the raiding party got nothing, which proves that the cases are false'.

Vaiko's personal assistant Arunagiri told mediapersons at the residence that the 'Q' branch had taken away some VCDs and audio tapes. The tapes also contained a speech by Vaiko at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Stating that raiding party had given receipts for the items taken out of the residence, he said family members had fully cooperated with the 'Q' branch.

Earlier, MDMK workers stationed outside the residence checked the six member raiding party, including a woman, before they entered the residence. No one was permitted into the house without being frisked. Vaiko's wife and son were in the house when the raids took place. A party activist said the checking was being carried out to ensure that 'nothing' was being taken inside.

Coming as it does after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa made her intentions clear on the possibility of banning the MDMK for its support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the raids are seen as an effort to collect material and documentary evidence in that direction.

In the processing of the documents or material collected, the party may be asked to explain the sources of its funding, among other things.

MDMK sources told rediff.com that the search may have been effected to embarrass the party leadership, by 'planting' documents, rather than 'finding' any. They also link the raids to Vaiko's re-assertion of support for the LTTE's pro-Eelam activities in Sri Lanka while talking to newsmen at the Poonamallee court on Wednesday, when he was being produced for remand.

The police stoutly contest this, and said the search was only a part of their continuing investigations.

They also said the raids had nothing to do with Vaiko's statement.

They also maintained that the raid is 'near-mandatory' under the law, as Vaiko's detention needs to be justified through material and documentary evidence, which could not be procured otherwise.

With inputs from agencies

Tell us what you think of this report