Firing could have been avoided: SC panel member

RAMANATHAPURAM: Citing mismanagement of the situation by the police as main reason for the Paramakudi incident, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Latha Priyakumar said a permanent police team should be deployed at the Five Point Road junction in Paramakudi.After interacting with the public and the injured persons at Paramakudi on Thursday, Priyakumar said the public blamed the police for the incident.  She said the police had failed to follow regular procedures, including warning people with microphones, shooting below the knee and bursting tear gas shells, to disperse the crowd.  Latha Priyakumar added that the public and affected people blamed police officials Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar and Senthil Velan for the situation that spiralled out of control. She suggested that preventive arrests could have brought calm to the area.  On the other hand, the district administration and other officials failed to interact with community leaders before the memorial day of Emmanuel Sekaran. She also blamed Collector Arun Roy for not visiting the firing spot and M Patcherry on time.  She said the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has sought details from the district administration and the police on the incident.  A report would be soon sent to the President. The commission has also decided to demand Rs. 10 lakh as solatium for each victim and employment for Kayathri, the wife of a victim.She said scores of people had visited the guest house at Paramakudi to testify before the commission.