Kovan sedition arrest: Activist group alleges Chennai police violated norms

Following the arrest of folk-artiste Kovan in Tiruchy that has caused much consternation, an organization called Makkal Adhikaram, which works for social issues, has claimed that the police did not follow proper procedures while arresting him.

Advocate S. Raju, member of the Makkal Adhikaram organization, said, “At 2:30 am on Friday morning, about 10 policemen (not in uniform) entered into Kovan’s house through the backdoor and forced him into a van. Kovan’s wife was threatened not to protest against the police. Later, only we came to know it was an arrest.”

S. Meenakshi, another advocate said, “Till 1:30pm on Friday, we were not told where he is kept. We filed a habeas corpus in the Madras High Court and then they allowed advocates to meet Kovan. Advocates were not allowed to meet him during interrogation.”

She added that by 7pm he was remanded before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and sent to Puzhal prison. They are moving for bail in the case. All the sections in the case are related to inciting people to act against the Government.

S. Raju said, “The police is also trying to impose National Security Act against him. We will try to prevent it.”

The organization has announced a protest on November 2, 2015 with political parties in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Villipuram, Tirunelvelli, Tiruchy and Dharmapuri. The protest is against, Kovan’s arrest and TASMAC shops in the state.

In another development, MDMK leader Vaiko sang Kovan’s songs at a public meeting in Tiruchy on Saturday and dared Tamil Nadu Government to arrest him under National Security Act.