The MLA has been accused of firing his gun at the real estate agent, his brother and their supporters.
Thiruporur police have arrested DMK MLA Idhayavarman for opening fire at the car of real estate agent Kumar and his brother Thandavamurthy, who is an AMMK functionary, in Sengani Amman Kovil area on Saturday. The MLA has been accused of firing his gun at the real estate agent, his brother and their supporters. The altercation reportedly took place over a land dispute and investigations are being held by the police on both sides.
Speaking to TNM, Mamallapuram DSP says, “We have confiscated two guns that were used. One is a 9 mm pistol, which was used by the MLA during the shootout. The other is a SBBL gun that is licensed to his father Lakshmipathi but the license has expired. Some eyewitnesses say his brother-in-law used this gun. The father, aged about 72 did not use the gun, nor has anyone seen him using it. The complaint from the other party does not mention his name either.”
According to the officer, Kumar had brought about 40 to 50 men from outside. “They have a long standing dispute. While no one on Kumar’s side has sustained any injuries, some of them on the DMK MLA’s side have minor knife injuries,” he adds.
Another investigating official from Thiruporur police station says, “We received complaints from both sides and we have filed first information reports (FIR) under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on both sides. Currently we are investigating it.” Cases have been registered against 70 people in total.
Kumar’s brother is a functionary in TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK party. According to Thandavamurthy, they had gone to visit Kumar’s land when Idhayavarman’s father and a few others surrounded the car and attacked them.
However, according to Idhayavarman and his supporters, villagers alleged that Kumar was an encroacher. “The MLA says his people had apparently gone in support of the villagers, when people alleged that Kumar was encroaching upon their lands,” the policeman says.
According to reports, one bystander was hit by one of the bullets fired but the police tell TNM that he did not sustain any serious injuries.
Idhayavarman from DMK was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly from Thiruporur constituency in the 2019 by-elections.
Watch a TV report on DMK MLA Idhayavarman
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Source: The News Minute