Tense moments prevailed near the erstwhile central bus stand in the city on Monday evening as a section of members of the Makkal Kalai Ilakiya Kazhagam came in a procession to stage a demonstration opposing ‘Sanathana’ while the Hindu Munnani members assembled in support of ‘Sanathana’ a few distance away from the spot.

Members of both outfits were arrested by a posse of police personnel deployed at the spot.  Police sources said a group of Makkal Kalai Ilakiya Kazhagam led by its district secretary Jeevanandham came in a procession towards the central bus stand raising slogans against Sanathana and to eradicate it.

Police personnel stopped the protesters who contined to raise slogans and arrested over 40 of them. The arrested persons were taken in a bus when a group of nine Hindu Munnai members led by its district president Bhojarajan raised slogans in support of ‘Sanathana’ leading to tense moments.

One of the Hindu Munnani members allegedly threw a footwear towards the vehicle carrying the arrested members, while those on board the vehicle flung a water bottle towards them. The police arrested the protesting Hindu Munnani members.  The arrested members of both outfits were accommodated in separate halls, the sources further said.  Meanwhile, the police detained Arjun Sampath - the leader of the Indu Makkal Katchi near Ariyamangalam in the city who was to apparently to join the protest in support of ‘Santhana’.