Nearly 800 workers of the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi were arrested after they staged a protest at Tiruchirapalli on Monday demanding the closure of special camps functioning across the State accommodating Sri Lankan Tamils.

 

Holding party flags, the functionaries headed by its founder T. Velmurugan assembled along the Tiruchi–Pudukottai national highway to lay siege to the Tiruchi special camp functioning inside the Central Prison premises.

 

The members led by Velmurugan marched towards the special camp to lay siege to the camp. However, the protesters were blocked by the police before they could near the prison entrance and taken into custody.

 

Velmurugan told media that keeping the Sri Lankan Tamils in the special camps who had entered the country as refugees was “condemnable” and went against human rights.

 

The Union and State governments should deal this issue on a humanitarian basis and release them. The Centre should arrange for special passports for the Sri Lankan Tamils accommodated in the camps to enable their departure abroad, he demanded.

(With inputs from The Hindu)