Chennai police tightened security around Marina Beach on Thursday, blocking key entry and exit points amid fears that supporters of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could gather to protest over the government formation issue in the state.
Security Measures Deployed
At least 50 police personnel and six patrol vehicles were deployed along the Marina Promenade. Barricades were placed on roads leading to the beach, and officers dispersed small groups gathering near the area, asking the public to vacate the spot.
Political Context
The Vijay-led TVK secured victory in 108 out of 234 assembly constituencies in the elections held on April 23. Although Vijay submitted a list of 112 MLAs, including five from Congress, to Governor R V Arlekar on Wednesday, he has not yet been invited to form the government.
Police Statement
Police said surveillance and security arrangements around Marina Beach were strengthened to maintain law and order and prevent unauthorized gatherings.
About the Author
A Selvaraj, also known as Crime Selvaraj, is a veteran journalist with over 31 years of experience in crime reporting across leading Tamil and English newspapers. He has covered historic events including the deaths of former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi, the IPL betting scam, and the Kanchi Seer Sankararaman murder case. A familiar face in the digital space, he has given more than 500 interviews across 30 YouTube channels with millions of views on social media. He has also featured in international documentaries on Netflix and Bloomberg, speaking on high-profile cases such as idol smuggler Subhash Kapoor and conman Sukesh Chandrasekar. Beyond journalism, he has acted in three films including the Tamil movie DNA, trained over 200 budding journalists, directed short films, and authored the English crime-poetry collection Chilled Love. His contributions have earned him the TOI Scribe Award and the Humanitarian Award from former Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan.
