Temple urged to withdraw police reports
Published: Feb 7, 2009 6:29 AM | Updated: Feb 7, 2009 9:39 AM
A MIC leader today urged the Batu Caves Hindu temple committee to withdraw police reports lodged against thousands of Hindraf supporters who had gathered at the temple on Nov 24, 2007.
The crowd, which had gathered at the temple to take part in a massive rally the next day, was forcibly moved out of the temple compound by the police using teargas and water cannons in the early hours of Nov 25, 2007.
A MIC leader today urged the Batu Caves Hindu temple committee to withdraw police reports lodged against thousands of Hindraf supporters who had gathered at the temple on Nov 24, 2007.
The crowd, which had gathered at the temple to take part in a massive rally the next day, was forcibly moved out of the temple compound by the police using teargas and water cannons in the early hours of Nov 25, 2007.
About 70 of them were subsequently charged in court for illegal assembly and destroying public property (the temple gates). The cases against them are ongoing.
Grassroots leader and Shahbandar Shah Alam MIC branch head KP Samy said that in the aftermath of the standoff at the temple, the temple committee had lodged police reports against the Hindraf supporters.
"Perhaps the temple committee as a goodwill gesture will withdraw the police reports in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival tomorrow," Samy told Malaysiakini.
He said that the temple committee must remember that its actions in "shutting out" these people had resulted in a massive boycott of the Thaipusam celebrations in Batu Caves by the Indian community last year.
The former MIC central working committee member, who is known for his open support for the Hindraf cause, added the removal of the police reports by the complainants would make it easier for lawyers of those charged in court to make a representation to the Attorney General to drop charges.
"It has been more than a year now. Some of the people who have been charged are factory workers and students. Some are also from outstation.
"The trial has been a burden on them. It's time the temple did something to close this chapter. Just withdraw the police reports," he said.
Temple lodged four reports
Businessman Samy provided bail for everyone arrested during the crackdown by the police at Batu Caves temple as well as for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters detained at the rally on Nov 25, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur.
On the fateful night of Nov 24 and early hours of Nov 25, 2007, hundreds of Hindraf supporters - mostly from out of town - had gathered at the Batu Caves temples so that they could join in the rally later the next day. Their numbers rose to almost 3,000 by the time the police dispersed them.
The police said then that they only moved in after receiving a report at about 2am that these people had trespassed into the temple compound.
The police also defended the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd as they were pelted with stones and bricks by the Hindraf supporters.
The Batu Caves temple, for long a religious site for Thaipusam celebrations, suffered minor damage as a result of the clash.
Temple secretary M Devarajoo was then reported as saying that the temple lodged four police reports on the trespass and damages caused to the temple.
The decision of the temple not to open the gates on Nov 24 and to call in the police caused anger amongst many people, resulting in the boycotting of the temple for Thaipusam last year.
The crowd, which had gathered at the temple to take part in a massive rally the next day, was forcibly moved out of the temple compound by the police using teargas and water cannons in the early hours of Nov 25, 2007.
About 70 of them were subsequently charged in court for illegal assembly and destroying public property (the temple gates). The cases against them are ongoing.
Grassroots leader and Shahbandar Shah Alam MIC branch head KP Samy said that in the aftermath of the standoff at the temple, the temple committee had lodged police reports against the Hindraf supporters."Perhaps the temple committee as a goodwill gesture will withdraw the police reports in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival tomorrow," Samy told Malaysiakini.
He said that the temple committee must remember that its actions in "shutting out" these people had resulted in a massive boycott of the Thaipusam celebrations in Batu Caves by the Indian community last year.
The former MIC central working committee member, who is known for his open support for the Hindraf cause, added the removal of the police reports by the complainants would make it easier for lawyers of those charged in court to make a representation to the Attorney General to drop charges.
"It has been more than a year now. Some of the people who have been charged are factory workers and students. Some are also from outstation.
"The trial has been a burden on them. It's time the temple did something to close this chapter. Just withdraw the police reports," he said.
Temple lodged four reports
Businessman Samy provided bail for everyone arrested during the crackdown by the police at Batu Caves temple as well as for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters detained at the rally on Nov 25, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur.
On the fateful night of Nov 24 and early hours of Nov 25, 2007, hundreds of Hindraf supporters - mostly from out of town - had gathered at the Batu Caves temples so that they could join in the rally later the next day. Their numbers rose to almost 3,000 by the time the police dispersed them.
The police said then that they only moved in after receiving a report at about 2am that these people had trespassed into the temple compound.The police also defended the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd as they were pelted with stones and bricks by the Hindraf supporters.
The Batu Caves temple, for long a religious site for Thaipusam celebrations, suffered minor damage as a result of the clash.
Temple secretary M Devarajoo was then reported as saying that the temple lodged four police reports on the trespass and damages caused to the temple.
The decision of the temple not to open the gates on Nov 24 and to call in the police caused anger amongst many people, resulting in the boycotting of the temple for Thaipusam last year.
View Comments0