CHENNAI: A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against Leader of the Opposition in the state Mr. M K Stalin and several of DMK cadres for violating the ban on protests at Marina and conducting a hunger strike at Gandhi Statue on February 18. The leader and DMK cadres protested condemning police high-handedness against DMK MLAs and their forceful eviction from the Assembly on Saturday. The FIR has been filed under Section 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) read with Section 41 of Madras City Police Act (Regulation of meetings and assembly at public places). The Police said that Mr. M K Stalin was already arrested and released for the protest fast he held on Kamarajar Salai and violating the ban. The Police do not intend to arrest him as per the FIR registered, Police said. Public protests, marches and meetings are banned at the Marina invoking Sections of Madras City Police Act and those violating the ban will be booked and prosecuted. Meanwhile Mr M K Stalin announced that DMK will conduct a one-day token fast protest across the state on February 22 against the autocratic conduct of the Assembly. ]]>
