17 TMC councillors yet to be released

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, SEPT. 28. As many as 17 TMC councillors of the Chennai Corporation arrested on Wednesday were yet to be released till late this evening.

Other TMC councillors, who turned up for the council meet at Ripon Building, decided not to attend the meet. Some attributed ulterior motives to the move to remand a major chunk of councillors to custody when there was a pre-decided council session.

``Why is that 16 of us were released last evening and 17 others kept in,'' asked one. ``They obviously do not want us in the council. This way things will be much better for the ruling party,'' said another.

They pointed out that the move also created a dangerous precedent. ``When they have some uncomfortable session, the ruling party can simply get arrested the councillors whom they consider trouble makers,'' alleged one.

While it was required that the Presiding Officers of the Assembly or Parliament be notified in the case of arrest of members of such bodies, there was no such rule for the local bodies.

Ruling party councillors said that the Corporation has been informed of the arrests, but till late this evening the Mayor's office and the Commissioners' office had not received any official communication from the Police Commissioner, it is learnt.

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Section  : Southern States
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