BJP continued to mount pressure on Tamil Nadu government with protests against the killing of Hindu Munnani leader C Sasikumar in Coimbatore earlier this month. On Wednesday, the protests were led by TN BJP unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan and senior leader H Raja. They wanted to start the protests at Valluvar Kottam but were not given permission.

The venue then shifted to near Rajarathinam grounds in Egmore. Here too the police refused to allow the protests, which led to a wordy duel between the BJP cadres and the police. The police maintained that the BJP leaders had no permission to hold protests, but in the mele traffic on this busy road came to a halt. Police put up barricades to prevent the protesters from moving ahead.

“We asked for permission to protest in Valluvar Kottam, however the police denied it for some reason and asked us to hold the same near Rajarathinam stadium. But after reaching here, they have arrested us,” Tamilsai Soundararajan told media person. According to police, permission was denied as election code of conduct was in force.

Similar protests by BJP activists across the state were prevented and the participants arrested. The BJP leaders are protesting the gruesome killing of C Sasikumar (36) from Subramaniyampalayam in Coimbatore when he was on his way home last week.

His killing sparked off arson and looting in Coimbatore and some parts of Tirupur, but it took two days for the police to get a grip on the situation and bring it under control.