Seven arrested for attacking PMK MLA Arul’s supporters in Salem

Seven supporters of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss, who were part of the group that allegedly attacked the supporters of Salem West MLA R. Arul — a loyalist of party founder S. Ramadoss — at Pethanaickenpalayam in Salem district on Tuesday (November 4, 2025), were arrested by the Yethapur police on Wednesday (November 5).

The accused were identified as Tamilselvan, Arulmani, Saravanan, Venkatesh, Vignesh, Poovizhiraja, and Vimalraj. A case was registered against 20 persons, and seven of them were arrested. Nine supporters of Mr. Arul are undergoing treatment at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem.

A violent clash had broken out at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday when Mr. Arul was returning from the house of the PMK’s Pethanaickenpalayam union secretary. Mr. Arul said a group, allegedly led by Mr. Anbumani’s supporters Jayaprakash and Sadaiyappan, began pelting stones at his car and convoy. He said the group attacked his supporters with stones, wooden logs, and iron rods, leaving several of them seriously injured.

Anbumani’s supporters stage protest

Meanwhile, claiming that no case had been registered against the supporters of Mr. Arul for allegedly attacking Mr. Anbumani’s supporters at Pethanaickenpalayam on Tuesday, several PMK functionaries, led by Mettur MLA S. Sadhasivam, staged a sit-in protest at the portico of the district police office in Salem on Wednesday.

Party functionaries alleged that their cadre were assaulted by Mr. Arul’s supporters, who they claimed incited Tuesday’s attack. “It has been 24 hours since we lodged a complaint that our men were assaulted. Why has no case been registered yet?” Mr. Sadhasivam asked.

The protesters raised slogans demanding that a case be filed immediately and a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) be provided to them. They also claimed that the seven functionaries who were arrested were innocent, and accused the police of acting in a biased manner. Attempts by the police to pacify them failed as the protest continued.

Arrest Arul under Goonda’s Act: K. Balu

On Tuesday, K. Balu, a spokesperson of the PMK and supporter of Mr. Anbumani, accused Mr. Arul of leading a group to attack Mr. Anbumani’s supporters and “attempting to murder” one of them. He sought Mr. Arul’s detention under the Goondas Act.

In a statement, Mr. Balu alleged that the police did not take action against Mr. Arul despite the “brutality” taking place in full view of the police in Salem district.

“Mr. Arul and his group, without permission, parked a vehicle on a land belonging to Rajesh Kumar, who is a member of the PMK, where betel nut sacks were being dried. When Mr. Rajesh Kumar objected, Mr. Arul incited his supporters to attack him. The police, instead of stopping them, detained Mr. Rajesh Kumar,” he claimed.

“Local PMK functionaries rushed to the rescue of Mr. Rajesh Kumar and took him for medical treatment. At that time, as Mr. Arul and his group were leaving Salem, they attempted to run down and kill another functionary Mr. Senthil Kumar at Vadukathampatti Tharaipalam with a vehicle. Mr. Senthil Kumar, who was grievously injured, has been admitted to a hospital,” he alleged.

Mr. Balu claimed Mr. Arul has been involved in attacking PMK members and posting inciteful content on social media ever since he was “expelled” from the PMK last July. He urged the police to take action against him.