Jallikattu: Chennai Police Under Fire as Video Shows Cop Setting Auto Ablaze

Chennai: On a day the pro-Jallikattu protests in the city turned violent, videos have emerged which purportedly show policemen committing arson.

In the first video, which has been shared widely on WhatsApp, a policeman, whose uniform suggests he is a constable, is seen throwing a sheaf of burning newspapers into an autorickshaw.

Speaking to News18, Mylapore Deputy Commissioner said, “We are looking into the veracity of the video. We are shocked... We will take action against the policeman if it’s true."

In a press conference on Monday evening, Chennai Police Commissioner TK Rajendran said, “The videos of police surfacing on social media are morphed. It is a matter of investigation."

The protests that had been praised by many for being peaceful took a violent turn on Monday when police tried to evict protesters from Marina Beach. Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge. Several vehicles were set on fire, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach. While vehicles were gutted, the front portion of the station and the name board were damaged in the fire. Similarly, vehicles, including cars, were set on fire by unidentified persons near Nadukuppam.