In a video that is going viral on social media, former DMK MP from Dharmapuri can be seen using foul language and hitting and kicking a police officer on duty at a toll plaza near Salem.
The police officers on COVID duty were reportedly checking e-passes of vehicles passing through Omalur toll plaza falling under Salem district. When they asked the former DMK MP for his travel papers, he got off the front seat of the car and started behaving rudely with the police officer. One of the police officer can be seen taking a photo/video to which Arjunan says “photo puluthiriya? Puluthu da” (Taking photos is it? Take! Do whatever you want!). He threatens to beat them with slippers (seruppu pinjidun b***u). The police officers can be seen asking the former DMK MP to engage with them respectfully and behave responsibly. The former DMK MP calls the police officers as uniformed beggars (uniform pota picchaikaaranga) to which the officer replies that he is even worse.
Irked by this, the former DMK MP hits the police officer first and threatens “how dare you!” The police officer pushes back in return. Arjunan then kicks the police officer with his leg and leaves in his car.
However, DMK mouthpieces like Kalaignar Seithigal and RK Radhakrishnan (The Hindu’s Frontline Associate Editor) confused the former DMK MP Kaatiannan Arjunan with former ADMK MP K.R. Arjunan.
Kalaignar Seidhigal tweeted “Former AIADMK MP Arjunan, kicks and abuses a Sub-Inspector on duty at Salem toll plaza”
RK Radhakrishnan, a vocal DMK sympathizer and an Associate Editor of Frontline tweeted a news clipping that says “ADMK MP engages in dispute with police officer” with the caption that says “.@PoliceTamilnadu‘s third degree is reserved for the poor and the hapless. A remotely “connected” politician can do anything – including trying to kick a cop – and drive away. There’s no sense of honour, pride, self-respect or dignity in large sections of the #Police.
A lot of confusion is going on social media whether Arjunan belongs to the DMK or ADMK.
It is fact that Kattiannan Arjunan was elected from Dharmapuri as a DMK candidate in the year 1980. However, his current party affiliation is not yet confirmed.
Incident happened at Omalur which falls under Salem district. No action is been taken against the ex MP yet. Local reports say that he was in DMK,joined DMDK,then jumped to AIADMK and finally seen in Deepa peravai too. No clarity with the party. https://t.co/eb96Sl2kc5
— Sanjeevee sadagopan (@sanjusadagopan) June 29, 2020