Release youth held on sedition charges

CHENNAI:  A group of activists on Saturday demanded the release of some persons who were allegedly arrested on charges of sedition. Speaking to reporters, activist A Marx said they were shocked by media reports suggesting that Satish Kumar (30), state convenor of Tamilaga Illaignar Ezhuchi Pasarai, was arrested on sedition charges when he participated in a rally in Tirunelveli against the KKNPP on Friday. While leaders such as MDMK general Secretary Vaiko, who led the rally, were arrested and later released, Satish was re-arrested and kept in an unknown place before he was produced before the magistrate, they.Similarly, two others, Mukilan and Vanniarasu, who had participated in such protests, have also been arrested.Pointing to the comment of Tirunelveli DIG V Varadaraju that Satish was involved in a case pertaining to the training of suspected Maoists in 2002,  writer and activist V Geetha said this was an “attempt to criminalise civil protests”.The activists said applications for their bail will be moved once the courts re-open on Monday.