The V. Chatrapatti police station that was ransacked on Friday night.
| Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY
AIADMK MLA R.B. Udayakumar, along with more than 100 party cadre, were on Saturday detained at a private hall near Peraiyur in Madurai after they attempted to visit V. Chatrapatti police station, which was ransacked the previous night.
The police station, which falls under the Peraiyur sub-division, was reportedly ransacked by a murder case suspect and his acquaintance as the former wanted vengeance against police personnel from the station who took his father for investigation, said police sources. They said the duo locked up the sole head constable on-duty inside the station and fled the spot. The head constable was only let out by a villager in the morning of Saturday.
Mr. Udayakumar, along with the public and party cadre, attempted to visit the station after he received petitions regarding the incident. But, the Madurai District Police, citing law and order issues, prevented the group from visiting the spot. They were stopped near T. Kallupatti and detained at a private hall near Peraiyur.
Mr. Udayakumar said the police had no right to stop him as he represented the Assembly constituency wherein the damaged police station was located.
“I visited the police station based on the petition received from the villagers as they feared repercussions from the police force. Though none of the villagers was disturbed, as an elected member from that area, I have the responsibility to visit them,” he added.
“We have been saying that poor policing in the State is the reason for crimes being reported in recent days,” he said.
Action condemned
Condemning the detention of Mr. Udayakumar and party cadre on social media platform X, Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said during the DMK regime not only people but also the police, who were supposed to protect the public, had no safety. Insisting on action against those who ransacked the police station, he appealed to the people to take care of themselves till there was a change of government in the State.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan, responding to the arrest of Mr. Udayakumar, issued a statement condemning the attack on the police station and detention of an elected representative.
AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran also expressed shock and concern over the incident.
Published – June 15, 2025 12:47 am IST