Will fight case legally: HMK leader

A day after he was booked for allegedly promoting disharmony and enmity between communities, Hindu Makkal Katchi state president Arjun Sampath today said he would fight the case legally.
He had posted pictures of himself performing Ayudha pooja on October 10 on Facebook. About six firearms, including rifles, a pistol, sword and a sickle were placed before a deity and he was seen sitting in front of it.
"There is nothing wrong in performing pooja, as I am following the culture and tradition... Moreover, the rifle kept for the pooja is of my son, who is a member of Rifle club...," Sampath told reporters here.

The sword was presented to him by his followers, he said.
However, one rifle was said to be that of a security guard provided by police and the department has initiated an inquiry into it, police said.
Some vested interests were behind the raking up of issue unnecessarily, since he wanted Ayudha pooja to be performed in government offices and police stations, Sampath alleged.

Meanwhile, a group of HMK workers has submitted a memorandum to the district collector urging him to withdraw the case against their leader.
Cases under Section 153 of the IPC promoting disharmony and enmity between communities) and 25 (1)(a)(exhibiting arms without license from authority) of the Indian Arms Act, have been registered against him, police said.

Though Sampath had withdrawn the post, several political parties and social outfits had submitted memorandums to the police commissioner, demanding legal action against him, as they felt it could lead to disturbance of peace and to find out if he had valid licences for the weapons, police said.
The September 22 murder of Hindu Munnani district spokesperson Sasikumar had triggered violent protests in Coimbatore, with several BJP senior leaders condemning the incident and saying that of late Hindu outfit leaders were being targeted in Tamil Nadu.