T.N. Govt., police on the mat again

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, AUG. 13. Barely six weeks after the `midnight arrests' of the DMK leaders, the Tamil Nadu Government and the Chennai police find themselves on the mat again - this time for the violence let loose on a DMK procession and rally on Sunday night.

Whatever be the provocation, the City police have landed in fresh trouble with the firing and consequent deaths. A few bodies remain unidentified and the exact cause of those deaths has not been fully explained.

If the DMK wanted to create disturbance or a law and order problem, the State Government and the City police had every reason to prevent that and control the situation. It looks like they have fallen into the trap and sparked a fresh controversy all over again.

At a time when the State police, particularly the Chennai police, have been hauled up for ``high-handedness and excesses,'' it was most unfortunate that they should have resorted to firing on the procession and caused the death of at least five persons.

More important, scores of DMK cadres were rushed to various hospitals last night with severe bleeding injuries, reportedly sustained in ``clashes'' with residents of the Ayodhya Kuppam - a slum off the Marina, known for its fishermen and their pro-AIADMK leanings. Sharp instruments, including knives and sickles, have been used in this clash and nobody would expect the DMK volunteers to inflict such grievous wounds on themselves.

According to DMK sources, there were no policemen in sight anywhere near the slum and a contingent landed at the scene after the ``attack.'' ``This is why our leader has complained to the Governor that it was a pre-planned, well meditated attack on our cadres,'' says a party senior.

The question that has arisen from this latest bout of violence is that even if the DMK was keen on sparking violence, as the Government makes it out, why did the police and the State administration not realise that they should have shown greater restraint. They have allowed things to go out of control and invited a fresh demand for ``stringent action'' against the Government and the police. The DMK can be expected to step up its campaign for further action by the Centre - in one form or another. The DMK chief, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, has expressed himself against the imposition of Article 356, but he certainly expects the Centre to act firmly and swiftly.

Another unfortunate feature of this recurring violence has been the targetting of the media. Eyewitness accounts and the details provided by many of the injured journalists point to a ``deliberate attack'' on the scribes and lensmen. It appears as though some have been specifically targetted. More than going for the individuals, the police have gone for their equipment. Many private television camera crew have had their equipment completely smashed or damaged. Some have been mercilessly beaten up, allegedly inside the police headquarters.

The Chief Minister has swung into action on a possible damage- control exercise. A Commission of Inquiry has been announced to go into all aspects of the violence. It remains to be seen how long it will take to arrive at the truth. And the question is, can the full truth come out if the officers in charge remain where they are.

Perhaps the Centre is trying to follow the rule book to avoid any major Centre-State confrontation. But the Tamil Nadu Government seems to be testing its patience too much and too often. The police here will have to learn ``crowd control and management'' even more carefully, considering the tension that is building up and the traditional rivalry that exists between the two Dravidian parties - the DMK and the AIADMK. Unless they remain a professional, uniformed force, its top officials are bound to get identified with a regime and then pay a price whenever there is a change of government.

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