MDMK founder Vaiko, supporters arrested

MDMK founder Vaiko and around 500

of his supporters were arrested today when they tried to stage

a picketing at the Poonamallee Special Camp (for Sri Lankan

Tamils) demanding release of the inmates. Vaiko and others and were lodged at a nearby marriage

hall after being arrested, police said. The MDMK leader had announced staging a picketing of the

special camp at Poonamallee demanding release of the inmates

lodged there besides the one at Chengalpattu and moving them

to normal camps. Alleging that the special camps acted as "detention

camps," he had demanded that the Sri Lankan Tamils lodged

there be released on humanitarian grounds.