Forty members of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association (TNPWAA) and Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front were arrested on Sunday for organizing a beef fest in Tiruvannamalai town.

Moreover, ADSP Rengarajan of Tiruvannamalai with few other policemen allegedly misbehaved with and manhandled protesters and journalists at the location. It was stopped by few policemen who were part of Tiruvanmalai sub-division police who knew the journalists and returned mobile phone of a reporter, according to NIE report.

After this, the police arrested the protesters for organizing the fest without taking prior permission. The protesters were forced into a police patrol vehicle. They were allegedly detained in a marriage hall till 7:15pm and later released.