Hundreds of TMMK members held in Chennai for defying ban

Hundreds of people who participated in the rally organised by Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMKK) to press for the community's demands here Saturday were arrested for defying a ban on the gathering, the organisation said.

In a statement issued here, the TMMK said it had called a rally towards the state secretariat demanding increase of 3.5 percent backward class Muslim quota in the state; amendments in the Compulsory Muslim Marriage Act in line with the community's sentiments and grant of general amnesty to all life convicts who have spent more than 10 years in a prison.

According to TMMK, the rally was announced three months earlier and elaborate arrangements were made but the city police denied permission at the last moment and began arresting thousands of Muslims from reaching here from Friday evening.

The rally was led by TMMK president J.S. Rifayee and senior leaders like legislator M.H.Jawahrullah, S. Hyder Ali and others who participated were also arrested.