TN: Police bans pro-Eelam public meeting

A pro-Tamil Eelam public meeting, which was to be held in Cuddalore on Saturday and attended by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik among others, was banned by police after the organisers put up banners carrying pictures of slain LTTE chief V Prabhakaran.

Police withdrew the permission granted to Naam Tamizhar Katchi headed by film director Seeman to hold the meeting in support of separate Tamil Eelam as the organisers violated certain conditions, SP Radhika told media persons.

The party violated the conditions and erected banners and pasted posters with photographs of Prabhakaran all over the town, she said.

Police removed the banners and posters and served a notice on the organisers demanding an explanation, Inspector of Police V Ramachandran told PTI.

Arriving in Cuddalore shortly after the police announced the ban, Seeman, who was accompanied by Malik, went into a huddle with party leaders at a marriage hall on the outskirts of the town.

Seeman had invited Malik among others to attend the meeting.

Police said the leaders were holding an indoor meeting at the hall.

A tense situation prevailed in the town and police pickets had been posted.