Karunanidhi asks for CBI probe into Madurai violence

By IANS

Madurai/Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Thursday sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the attack on a newspaper office in Madurai by supporters of his son Azhagiri that left three people dead.


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Angry mobs set on fire the office of the Dinakaran paper Wednesday after the newspaper published a poll favouring Karunanidhi's younger son Stalin over the elder Azhagiri as his political heir.

The chief minister told the assembly that as the violence was allegedly due to the fraternal feud in his family, it would not be right to have an inquiry by the state police.

"A CBI probe has been sought," he said.

The mayhem in the temple town of Madurai and neighbouring regions also led to the arrest of Mayor Thenmozhi's husband Gopinath along with three members of the ruling DMK.

All the DMK functionaries arrested were Azhagiri supporters.

It was all quiet Thursday with the government stepping up security in the district.

Security has also been provided at the Dinakaran offices in Madurai and Chennai.

Police had arrested three dozen people late Wednesday in several districts for arson, roadblocks and destruction of public property, including state transport buses and private vehicles.

Among those arrested was Azhagiri supporter and local goon Tiger Pandi.

The Azhagiri supporters who attacked the Dinakaran office, owned by the Sun Group, were led by the mayor.

The Dinakaran has filed a police complaint and has demanded the arrest of Azhagiri, a powerbroker in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

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