One dead in scuffle as crowd throng Rajaji Hall to pay homage to Karunanidhi

All the arterial roads to Marina Beach and Rajaji Hall have been blocked for traffic.

One person was killed and several others were injured on Wednesday after a scuffle broke out between the police and a huge crowd, which surrounded the body of DMK leader M Karunanidhi at Rajaji Hall in Chennai.

Huge crowd outside Rajaji Hall where body of DMK chief Karunanidhi is being kept, in Chennai on August 8. (ANI Photo/Twitter)

Police had to use batons as lakhs of DMK supporters swelled at Rajaji Hall after a portion of the force was shifted to Marina Beach, where the DMK chief will be buried later in the day.

MK Stalin, Karunanidhi’s son and political heir, urged people and party workers to remain calm as the injured were admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in the city.

“Those who are in power are trying to create chaos, but you have all shown the strength of the cadres. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace,” Stalin said.

All the arterial roads to Marina Beach and Rajaji Hall have been blocked for traffic as Chennai continued to be deserted.