Madurai (Tamil Nadu):
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat was released on bail on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, she was taken into custody along with some All India Democratic
Women's Association (AIDWA) activists at the Tirupuragundram police station when
they were on their way to Uthaopuram village. Police said that Karat and AIDWA
activists were not permitted to hold a meeting in the village and when they tried
to enter the village police had to stop and arrest them. "The leader through her
representation had already asked for holding a meeting in a sensitive village,
but the permission was turned down citing reason for law and order situation,"
"But, in spite of that the concerned had tried to enter the village and during
which she was stopped and arrested and taken to Tirupuragundram women police station.
But, now she has been released on bail," said Manoharan, Deputy Superintendent
of Police (DSP) of Madurai. Karat was later released on bail, but she termed her
arrest as illegal and said that she wasn't visiting the village to cause any trouble.
"When I asked them (police authorities) the reason for my detention, they said
they have got news that there are trouble makers in the village. So, I said who
are these troublemakers. If there are troublemakers in the village you detain
and arrest the troublemakers. Why are you arresting us? We are not going there
to cause any trouble," Brinda Karat said.
