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69 TN dalits held for attack on policemen

Sixtynine dalits, including 34 women, were arrested today in connection with last night's alleged attack on a police party by the supporters of the Dalit Panthers of India at Ogalur village in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu.

Seven police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were injured when DPI supporters attacked them with petrol bombs and stones. The injured were admitted to government headquarters hospital, the police said.

When a 150-strong police force went to the village this morning once again to arrest DPI supporters, they resorted to stone throwing injuring a state special police constable.

The 69 arrested were remanded to 15 days judicial custody, the police added.

Talking to the media, the women folk alleged that the police were harassing them after failing to take DPI members into preventive custody. Last night's incident was in protest against the alleged kicking of pregnant women by the police.

They would not desert the village under any circumstance and wanted to inform Chief Minister M Karunanidhi about their plight through the media, they said.

UNI

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