Indian police arrested two persons who stoned the SriLankan Airlines booking office in Tiruchi on Saturday evening.

P. Udayakumar, 35, district coordinator of the Makkal Janayaga Kudiarasu Katchi, and V. Sathiakumaran, 28, district organiser of the Tamil Nadu Maanavar Koottamaippu, entered the office posing as customers. All of a sudden, they threw stones on the glass panes and raised slogans against the Sri Lankan government for an article critical of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa posted on the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry’s website.

Police personnel, who were posted in the area in view of the agitation by the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, nabbed them. Both were remanded in custody.

Earlier in the day, nine volunteers of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam staged a black flag demonstration in front the office. They were taken into custody and released in the evening.

Suicide attempt

A 52-year-old woman functionary of the AIADMK, attempted suicide in Salem on Saturday by consuming sleeping pills, allegedly upset at the article.

Vijayalakshmi, ward 16 deputy secretary of the party’s women’s wing, was found unconscious at her residence at Peramanur.

Her relatives admitted her to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital. Doctors said she was out of danger.

A note recovered from her room said she was upset at the article that tarnished the Chief Minister’s image. – The Hindu