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Three persons were killed, one in police firing, and over 100 people, including mediapersons, injured on Sunday as violence and arson marred a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rally called to protest the 'inhuman' manner of party president M Karunanidhi's arrest.
Violence erupted when a section of DMK workers pelted stones at police, which hit back by opening fire killing one party activist Solai Murugan, Madras Police Commissioner K Muthukaruppan said on Sunday night.
One person was run over by a vehicle carrying the rallyists, when he attempted to get out of the melee created by the violence, he said.
A body, suspected to be that of a rallyist, with head injuries was found at the door steps of a private hospital, he added.
Two persons had suffered bullet injuries.
Muthukaruppan, one of the three Indian Police Service officers involved in the controversial arrest of Karunanidhi on June 30, said police had exercised 'utmost restraint' despite provocation, including anti-police slogans of a 'highly abusive and personal level'.
Police, he said, swung into action only after a crowd pelted stones and set ablaze a police jeep.
He said rallyists had stoned the DGP's office mistaking it to be that of Police Commissioner's office.
When lathicharge and bursting of teargas shells proved ineffective, police opened fire leading to the death of Murugan who was brought dead to a government hospital, he said.
Meanwhile, the DMK claimed three persons were killed in the police firing.
More than 10 mediapersons, including seven cameramen, were injured when police prevented them from filming a vehicle on fire in front of the Director General of Police office.
Their cameras were smashed.
Some of the injured media personnel were admitted to a hospital.
Karunanidhi condemned the police firing and spoke to Tamil Nadu Governor C Rangarajan, who is in Hyderabad, and briefed him on the incidents.
Rangarajan, assured him that appropriate action would be taken, DMK sources said.
Journalist organisations condemned the assault on the mediapersons.
Regretting the police attack on mediapersons, Muthukarrupan assured that 'penal' action would be taken against police personnel responsible for the assault.
"There would be no compromise on this. We cannot bear these things," he said assuring the angry mediapersons that such incidents would not recur.
At the rally, Karunanidhi demanded a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the alleged violations of constitutional provisions during the three months rule of the Jayalalithaa government.
EARLIER REPORTS: DMK rally turns violent, 20 injured DMK rally ends, no untoward incident RELATED REPORT: DMK alleges AIADMK bid to disturb rally
Complete coverage of the Karunanidhi arrest drama
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