Tamilnadu Thowheed Jamaath members allege activist was arrested to appease the BJP

Tamilnadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ) members gathered in large numbers near the Egmore police station on Friday to protest the arrest of a member-activist, which they alleged was done to appease the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Tension prevailed near the police station as the TNTJ members went on with their protest despite police denying them permission. Forces were deployed to pre-empt prevent any untoward incident.

TNTJ State secretary M.S. Syed Ibrahim said under the pretext of verifying Aadhaar card details, functionaries of the BJP, including a few women, posed as representatives of the government and went on a door-to-door visit in Pudupet. A few residents of the locality noticed that and questioned them. Zamsith, a party cadre, lodged a complaint with police about it but he was booked in a false case and remanded, he claimed.

However, police said the trouble began when Sharon Rose, a Dalit Christian and an executive committee member of the BJP, lodged a complaint at Egmore Police Station last Monday stating that she, along with the party members, verified voters’ list and organised enrolment campaign at Shiyali street, Pudupet.

A muslim youth abused and misbehaved with her. A video was uploaded online on social media networks.

On Thursday, she attempted to commit suicide and was admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Based on her complaint, a case was booked against the Muslim youth for offences including assaulting her and for the use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

Therefore, the TNTJ member was arrested on Thursday and remanded in the case, police said.