Tamil Nadu MP held in Chennai after Colombo deportation

 The arrest came hours after the pro-LTTE leader was deported back to Chennai from Colombo on Monday  night.

The MP had been to the Sri Lankan capital en route to the northern town of Velvittithurai to pay homage to Parvathy Ammal, mother of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who died on Sunday.

However, on alighting at the Kattunayake International airport in Colombo, Emigration authorities refused permission to Thirumavalavan to proceed to Velvettithurai and asked him to return to Chennai. The Sri Lankan government had given strict instructions not to let him travel to Velvettithurai where  Ammal’s last rites were to be held.

On returning to Chennai by the very next flight early Tuesday, the MP representing Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi,  an ally of the UPA,  told reporters that the Sri Lankan government could give no valid reason for denying him entry.

Later, VCK activists took out a protest march to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner’s office where they were arrested by the Chennai Police to avert a showdown.