Vasigaran had threatened to attack officials involved in land acquisition for corridor

A special police party of the Salem district police arrested S.A.N. Vasigaran, Tamil Nadu coordinator of the Aam Aadmi Party in Chennai, in the early hours of Wednesday for making defamatory statement and posting derogatory message in the social media inciting people against the Salem–Chennai ‘green corridor’ expressway project.

A police party from the Karipatti police station picked up Vasigaran from his residence in Maduravayal in Chennai city.

Police sources said that Mr. Vasigaran, while addressing the television channels in front of the office of the Human Rights Commission in Chennai city on June 28, referred to the statement made by actor Mansoor Ali Khan in Salem district that he will attack eight officials who attempt to acquire the farm lands for the eight-lane project.

“But we will assault and kill 16 officials if they harassed the farmers and try to acquire their lands,” Mr. Vasigaran had said on the occasion.

“If not today, we will attack the officials on any day. The officials deserve this punishment,” Mr. Vasigaran had told the TV channels. The Aam Aadmi Party leader had also uploaded his statement on Youtube and social media.

Threat to govt. staff

The police said that the statement of Mr. Vasigaran had disturbed the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the State and had incited people to indulge in violence against the expressway project.

Besides, through his statement Mr. Vasigaran had also posed a serious threat to the government staff involved in the execution of the development projects.

Complaint filed

Ilangeswaran, village administrative officer, Kullampatti, who happened to see his statement on Youtube, preferred a complaint against Mr. Vasigaran with the Karipatti Police.

The police arrested him on Wednesday morning and cases were registered against him under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot); 183 (resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of public servant); 189 (threat of injury to public servant); 505 (1) (b) (causing fear or alarm to the public); and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Mr. Vasigaran was brought here with police protection and was produced in the District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court in Vazhappadi town and remanded in 15 days judicial custody.

We will assault and kill 16 officials if they harassed the farmers and try to acquire their lands

S.A.N. Vasigaran

T.N. AAP coordinator