RAMANATHAPURAM (TN): Five persons were today killed in police firing at Paramakudi, 40 km from here, when a mob of Dalits turned violent, setting ablaze vehicles and blocking traffic following the detention of their leader, John Pandian at Vallanadu in Tuticorin district.Violence broke out after news spread that Pandian had been detained at Tuticorin en route to Paramakudi to pay homage on the death anniversary of Dalit leader Imanuel Sekar.Police used tear gas and lathi-charge before firing at the crowd at Paramakudi.Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been promulgated in Ramanathapuram district and police officially confirmed the death of five persons in the violence.Four of the deceased have been identified as Jayapal, Panneerselvam, Manickam and Ganesan, while the fifth is yet to be identified, they said. About 50 others were also injured in the violence, they added.Police said several people, including DIG Sandeep Mittal, Superintendent of Police Senthil Velan and DSP Ganesan were injured and rushed to the Government Hospital.More than 15 vehicles, including a crowd control vehicle were set ablaze.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa defended the police firing and blamed some people for disrupting law and order "for their own political gains.""The protesters indulged in largescale violence and torched police vehicles. Police opened fire in self defence and to protect public property as they threw petrol bombs," she said in a statement, describing the violent protest as "highly condemnable". Jayalalithaa also announced Rs one lakh compensation from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the next of kin of those killed.Local police personnel said they had to open fire at the mob as lathi-charge and lobbing of tear gas shells had proved ineffective. Even opening fire in the air did not have any effect on the protestors, they said.All shops and business establishments in most parts of Ramanathapuram district were closed and bus services stopped.Local Dalit leaders blamed police for not making proper arrangements to manage the huge crowd expected for paying homage to the Dalit leader. They alleged that only 400 policemen were deployed in the area.Though police said the situation in the district was normal, there was sporadic violence at different parts of Ramanathapuram including at Muthukulathur, Sikkal and 14 other places.Police reinforcement has been sent to the district to monitor the situation closely and armed policemen have been posted at sensitive areas.Meanwhile, three trains - Madurai-Rameswaram Passenger, Karakkudi-Manamadurai DEMU Special and Rameswaram-Madurai Passenger - were cancelled following the incident.
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