Director seeman arrested in Tamil nadu

Tamil Film Director and Naam Thamizhar Party Founder Seeman was today arrested by the city police for allegedly making inflammatory speech ''aimed at inciting violence among religious groups.'' Police sources said Seeman was arrested at the Chennai Press Club where he came to address the media to explain his stand in the wake of cases registered against him.

He was produced before a George Town Magistrate Court and remanded to judicial c

After Seeman was arrested, his followers, about hundred in number, blocked the road and hit police vehicles.

On July 10, police had slapped cases on Seeman when he made inflammatory speeches during a demonstration to condemn the frequent attacks on Indian Fishermen by the Lankan Navy.

Seeman, who had formed ''Naam Tamizhar'' to espouse the cause of Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, had allegedly said, ''we could no longer tolerate the growing attacks on Indian fishermen and if it continued, Sinhala people will not be allowed to walk on the streets.'' He had also condemned Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse for his alleged role in the attack on innocent Tamils during the war and demanded convening of an all-party meet to adopt a resolution to declare him as a war criminal.

Stating the speeches were inflammatory in nature and aimed at inciting violence, the North Beach Police have registered cases against him under Sec 153-A (speaking in a manner to incite violence between two groups on the basis of religion, language and race) and under Sec 188 (speaking beyond the fixed time) of the IPC, read with Sec 13 (1) (b) of Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act, 1967 and 2004.