Tamil Nadu: Vijay holds third law and order review in a week as Opposition steps up attack over killings

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday chaired his third law and order review meeting of the week, as his TVK government came under sustained Opposition fire over a series of killings reported around Deepavali.

The meeting, attended by the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police, discussed recent murder cases and the action taken, and decided to step up patrolling across the state, including surveillance with drones, DT Next reported. Vijay also holds the Home portfolio.

Government's defence

Briefing reporters, Law and Energy Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar rejected the criticism and said the police had been given complete operational freedom to deal with criminal elements. He said nearly 19,000 history-sheeters had been remanded in the six months since the government took office, about 9,600 drug-related cases registered and more than 14,000 people arrested, figures he said were well above those of earlier governments. He said all recent incidents were being investigated without bias and that the Chief Minister was directly monitoring policing. The figures are the government's own and were not independently verified.

Earlier in the week, police ran a statewide drive against habitual offenders. On 9 and 10 November, 467 people were arrested and remanded and 303 history-sheeters were made to sign good-conduct bonds, according to police figures.

Opposition's charge

Opposition parties have pointed to about 15 murders around the festival, including the death of a Special Sub-Inspector in Theni who was allegedly attacked after he confronted youths bursting crackers on a road. DMK leader and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and state BJP president Nainar Nagendran have all said law and order has deteriorated, with the BJP leader arguing that even police personnel were not safe. Police have said the count includes cases from before Deepavali and denied a festival-specific spike.

The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report on the situation from Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who was expected to brief Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday, according to DT Next.

Why it matters

Six months into its term, the TVK government's handling of policing has become the main line of attack for its rivals. The Centre's request for a report from the Governor adds a Centre-state dimension to a dispute that has so far been fought within the state.