Chennais journalists protest arson attack on Dinakaran office

Scores of journalists in Chennai staged a protest against the recent arson attack on the office of the Tamil daily, Dinakaran, in Madurai, in which three employees were killed.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu), May 13 : Scores of journalists in Chennai staged a protest against the recent arson attack on the office of the Tamil daily, "Dinakaran", in Madurai, in which three employees were killed.

The rally was held near the state police chief's office here and a charter was presented demanding a fair and speedy probe into the matter.

"It is surely a pre-meditated, pre-planned and deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by some people in Madurai. This has to be exposed by the state police.

But on the other hand, 250 journalists who pressed for this legitimate demand have been arrested. That shows that the police are not interested in taking action," said M. Rangaraj, the President of the Madras Reporters Guild.

Rangaraj further said that now it is only left to the Central Bureau of Investigation to deliver justice to the affected families.

"We fail to understand why the police are hesitating to take action against the real culprits of the attack," he added.

Tamil Nadu Police have so far arrested 30 suspects, including the Madurai Mayor who belongs to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Two computer engineers and a security personnel of Maran-family owned "Dinakaran", choked to death after a mob set fire to the office on Wednesday.

Police and employees of "Dinakaran" blamed the attack on supporters of M K Azhagiri, the elder son of Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi.

Azhagiri's supporters were enraged after an opinion poll in the newspaper said that his younger brother and state minister M.K. Stalin should succeed his 84-year old father as the next DMK head.

Azhagiri's supporters burnt copies of the "Dinakaran", attacked its office with bricks and sticks and smashed windows.

"Dinakaran" is owned by Kalanidhi Maran, the brother of Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

ANI