TRICHY: A party office of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) near Srirangam in Trichy district was allegedly torched by miscreants on Friday. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred just days ahead of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly election results. The thatched shed, measuring around 400 square feet, was located in Kamanayakkanpalayam village near Pettaivaithalai in Trichy district. It was functioning as the election campaign office of actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam for the Srirangam Assembly constituency. Police suspect the fire was a case of arson and broke out around 2:30 am on Friday. Alerted villagers rushed to the spot upon noticing the flames and attempted to douse the fire, but the shed was already completely gutted by the time they brought it under control. In addition, a large digital banner promoting TVK’s Srirangam Assembly candidate S. Ramesh, which had been erected near the office, was torn and heavily damaged. The alleged arson and vandalism took place just four days before the declaration of results for the Tamil Nadu State Assembly elections. A complaint was registered at Pettaivaithalai Police Station by Veera Siva, the Trichy district secretary of TVK’s farmers’ wing. Police have begun investigating the case and are searching for the suspects. TVK candidate S. Ramesh has demanded that the police immediately arrest the culprits. He further claimed to have received information that opposition parties are planning violent acts against him and his party workers at the vote counting center on counting day. Ramesh has urged the authorities to provide additional security at the counting center and ensure that the entire vote counting process is conducted fairly and with complete integrity.
