Trichy: Police have registered cases against 28 individuals in connection with the disruption of voting at a polling station in Manapparai on April 23. The incident occurred after a protest in Vellayakonepatti, where demonstrators alleged a police lathi-charge.
Charges Filed
The accused have been booked on multiple charges, including unlawful assembly, road blockade, distribution of liquor, and voter intimidation. According to Valanadu police, a group of people halted voting at polling station 225, condemning an alleged baton-charge carried out by police. The protest was later called off following negotiations, and polling resumed.
Legal Provisions Invoked
Police have registered a case under sections 189(2), 126(2), 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 4(1)(C) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Amendment Act (2024) against the 28 people.
Details of the Incident
The First Information Report (FIR) stated that a crowd distributed liquor to voters within the prohibited 200-metre radius of the polling station. When police detained some individuals and took them to the station, a group carried out a road blockade in protest. Despite being warned and released, they regrouped and resumed the blockade. During this time, they threatened members of the public and obstructed voters from exercising their right to vote, police added.
