Police withdraw security to Rajini's house after his request

: Policemen deployed for security in the periphery of superstar Rajinikanth's residence here were withdrawn following his request on Saturday, a senior police official said.

Though the police personnel, including those drawn from the Armed Reserve were recalled, a team posted nearby -tasked with providing security for late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's Veda Nilayam residence- would cover the actor's house during its routine neighbourhood patrol.

Rajinikanth lives at upscale Poes Garden here, which is a just a stone's throw from the former AIADMK supremo's house.

After the actor's remarks last month on a rally taken out by social reformer E V Ramasamy "Periyar" in 1971 led to a row, police security was provided to his residence since some fringe Dravidian outfits had said they would hold protest in front of his house.

"We had a meeting with the actor on Saturday. Rajinikanth said he felt there was no need for police security. We reviewed the situation and the security has been withdrawn," a senior police official told PTI.

The actor's residence would, however, be covered during patrolling, the official added.

On January 14, taking part in an event held here by Tamil magazine 'Thuglak' Rajinikanth alleged: "In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally in which the undressed images of Lord Sriramachandra Moorthy and Sita -with a garland of sandal- featured."