Protest erupts near temple

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 300 Hindraf Makkal Sakti supporters staged a protest at the Sri Kortumalai Pillayar temple near Jalan Pudu, with banners and placards.

The crowd had re-grouped here after the initial plan of marching from the KLCC to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters was thwarted.

Among others, the protesters are chanting “Hapuskan Interlok” and “Jangan hina kaum India”.

Police personnel are currently stationed at the foot of the hill leading up to the temple, which is located opposite the Puduraya bus terminal.

At present, the protesters are attempting to march to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters located down the road to lodge reports.

Speaking to reporters later, Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan lambasted the authorities for cracking down on a peaceful protest.

“We are hounded like dogs. We are not a threat to national security, Umno is the threat,” he said.

Ganesan also listed four demands: release all those detained, ban the Interlok novel, rescind the ban on Hindraf and abolish all racist policies.

This morning, police had arrested Human Rights Party (HRP) secretary-general P Uthayakumar and several other Hindraf leaders.

Some 100 supporters were also nabbed.

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