TN man booked for garlanding Periyar poster with slippers, throwing cow dung on it

While reports suggest that the accused Kalai Arasan is a member of the BJP, police say that his political affiliation is yet to be determined.

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The Dharmapuri police have filed an FIR against a man called Kalai Arasan from Harur, after he posted a video on social media, insulting social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy. The video, according to the police, showed a pair hands cutting a dung cake in front of a Periyar poster and then throwing the slush on the leader's image.

Police tell TNM that Kalai Arasan is currently absconding and efforts are underway to find him. While reports suggest that he is a member of the BJP, police say that his political affiliation is yet to be determined. The complaint against him was given by a local resident named Vediappan, who is a member of Dravidar Kazhagam.

"They have cut this cake made out of dung and thrown it on the poster on Periyar's birth anniversary. In addition to this, they have garlanded the Periyar poster with slippers. We have already filed a case. We are on the lookout for the accused," says a police official involved in the investigation.

A case has been filed under sections 153(A)1(a)(promoting disharmony), 505(1) (b) (intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) and 505(1) (c) (intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community) of the Indian Penal Code.

The video has been pulled down from the accused's Facebook page.