Uthaya's supportes mistreated - Malaysiakini

Chaos broke out at the Brickfields police station in Kuala Lumpur this morning as the police sprayed chemical-laced water at about 300 supporters of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar.

MCPX

The supporters were accompanying nine people representing nine states and a relative of Uthayakumar, who intended to lodge police reports alleging that Uthayakumar was denied proper medical attention for his ailment.

Upon reaching the police station, several of the group’s representatives were let into the police station to negotiate on the number of people allowed to lodge the police report.

However, as the group's representatives were about to enter the police station, Brickfields police chief Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid gave the group 10 seconds to disperse.

“Disperse now. Only those lodging the report can remain. That was the agreement,” said Abdul Bari over the loudhailer, but the group failed to disperse.

Three hospitalised

Following this, Abdul Bari issued another warning for the group to disperse in three minutes. When the group failed to comply, chemical-laced water was fired into the crowd.

Most of the crowd had dispersed save for a few, including Kapar MP S Manikavasagam and Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas.

The duo were among 17 individuals who were eventually arrested, according to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who arrived at the scene later to act as the group’s lawyer.

Two ambulances arrived after the melee and entered the police station. According to Gobind, three individuals, including a woman, were taken to hospital.

As the chaos ensued, there was a bizarre moment when several individuals walked into the police station demanding that they be arrested.

Among others, they include Manikavasagam, Jayathas, Uthyakumar’s sister Waytha Nayagi and Uthayakumar’s sister-in-law K Shanti.

Cops have ‘different standards’

Speaking to reporters later, Gobind alleged that there appears to be “different standards” applied by the police during crowd control exercises.

“In Parliament, two MPs were roughed up but there was no action by the police. But when the Indians want to lodge a police report, we are arrested... what is their problem?” he exclaimed.

Gobind said the Inspector-General of Police owes the public an explanation for the police’s actions, adding that he hoped the police would not press charges against those detained as they were merely attempting to lodge a police report.

Uthayakumar’s supporters nationwide are lodging police reports against the authorities for allegedly failing to provide him proper medical treatment.

Uthayakumar suffers from diabetes and earlier this month, he broke several toes resulting in a massive swelling on his foot.

His supporters now fear that without proper medical treatment, his foot may have to be amputated.

Last week, Manikavasagam issued an ultimatum to the government to provide Uthayakumar proper medical treatment or face “hundreds” of police reports on this day.