TV office attacked over report of CPI(M) leader's death

The office of a TV channel floated by PMK founder S Ramadoss was today attacked allegedly by CPI(M) workers in protest against a report aired by it on the recent death of Communist leader W R Varadarajan, police said.

In retaliation, the CPI(M) office here was also attacked, they said.

According to police, about 100 CPI(M) workers gathered outside Makkal TV office, ransacked it and damaged some property and equipment.

Makkal TV employees alleged that some of their colleagues were injured during the attack.

Varadarajan, a former CPI(M) central committee member, allegedly committed suicide recently. His decomposed body was
recovered a few days after he was reported missing on February
11.

A national secretary of CPI(M) labour wing CITU, Varadharajan (64) was divested of party posts early February for "moral turpitude" following allegations of sexual harassment.

He was reportedly upset with the party's action.

Meanwhile, a group of PMK workers allegedly ransacked the CPI(M) headquarters here, damaging vehicles parked outside and
office furniture and property, police said.

P Sampath, a member of the CPI(M) state secretariat, said party workers were "protesting peacefully" outside Makkal TV office, but retaliated after stones were pelted at them from inside.

He alleged that some PMK workers, armed with weapons, barged into CPI(M) headquarters here and inflicted damage and uprooted some flagpoles.