Ex-official, others seized for picketing in India

A former chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu was among several people arrested in Madras when they tried to protest ethnic violence in Sri Lanka.

Former Chief Minister Muthuvel karunanidhi, now president of the regional Jgavida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Party, two DMK members of Parliament, and others were arrested when they tried to picket the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission.

They were held for violating a ban on processions and public assemblies. The arrests followed several recent protests against violence between majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils, whose ancestors came from Tamil Nadu.