Rajapaksa's visit: Vaiko, 1000 others detained

Founder of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Vaiko and leaders of the Communist Party of India and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi were detained on Tuesday when they attempted to stage demonstrations at different places here to protest Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to the country.

Rajapaksa is scheduled to arrive in India on Tuesday on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and others.

VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, CPI state secretary D Pandian, Tamil Nationals Movement leader P Nedumaran and actors Seeman and T Rajender were among those detained.

Cadres of the Sri Lankan Tamils Movement, formed by several pro-Tamil parties, including the MDMK, known for its pro-LTTE stand, and the CPI were held when they tried to stage black flag protests near Nageswara Rao Park and proceed towards the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner's office, the police said.

Vaiko, who addressed the protesters, alleged that thousands of minority Tamil civilians were killed towards the end of the war between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE last year.

He also alleged that Rajapaksa was responsible for killings of many innocent Tamils and demanded that he be tried in an international court of law.

More than 200 cadres belonging to the VCK, headed by Thol Thirumavalvan, were detained as they tried to stage a protest near Memorial Hall.

Thirumavalavan alleged that the Sri Lankan government had not utilised the funds given by India to rehabilitate Tamils living in rehabilitation camps in that nation.

About 100 PMK cadres, headed by Velmurugan, Member of Legislative Assembly, were also detained near the Collector's office.