Chennai, 18 February (H.S.) : Members of the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) have alleged that the city police manhandled their members during a protest on Tuesday night.
The demonstrators were staging a protest at the Rajarathinam Stadium, demanding an increase in monthly assistance to Rs 6,000. Currently, the state provides Rs 1,500 for those with less than 75 percent disability and Rs 2,000 for those above that threshold. The protesters were detained in 13 buses and later dropped at the Koyambedu bus terminus at approximately 2:00 am.
According to representatives from the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), the differently-abled persons continued their demonstration at the bus stand throughout the night. It was during this period that the city police allegedly used harsh measures to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to TARATDAC General Secretary Jansirani.
She is currently undergoing medical treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). The activists have condemned the police action, stating that the authorities dealt with the vulnerable group in an insensitive and aggressive manner.
The protesters have voiced their frustration over the lack of response to their long-standing financial demands. Despite the late-night detention and the alleged use of force, the group remains firm in its stance to continue advocating for better welfare benefits.
While the police claimed the measures were taken to maintain public order at the bus terminus, the injured activists and their supporters are demanding accountability for the physical harm caused during the late-night encounter.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
