MDMK, VCK workers held for protest against training to Lankans

Over 70 MDMK activists squatted in the middle of the road leading to the college at Wellington, blocking vehicular traffic for some time. Large number of police personnel were deployed to keep the situation under control.

The activists, including a few women, raised slogans against the UPA Government for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Tamils in India by bringing Sri Lankan officials for training in the state, police said.

A group of VCK workers also condemned the Centre for allowing the training and proceeded to the railway station here to block a train coming from Mettupalayam, when they were taken into custody.

As a precautionary step, armed personnel kept vigil near the main entrance of the Madras Regiment Centre, where the DSSC is located, police said.

The protests come a day after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa shot off a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accusing the Centre of showing "excessive enthusiasm" in training Lankan defence personnel and demanded that the two officers undergoing training since May be sent back.