Pistol-toting DMDK district functionary arrested

A district president of DMDK, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu assembly, was today arrested for allegedly threatening attendants at a toll gate with a pistol when they sought toll fee, police said.
Tirunelveli Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) district (West) president Kothai Mariappan was proceeding in his car to Tirunelveli after a party meeting last night when attendants at the toll gate in Naanguneri in the district sought entry fee following which a wordy duel broke out.
Mariappan then allegedly threatened them with a pistol and a complaint was lodged, police said, adding, he was arrested under the IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) and the Arms Act.

His car and pistol with 14 bullets were seized and he has been lodged in the Palayamkottai central prison, police said.
In an almost similar incident, former Congress MP and farmers' leader from Saurashtra Vitthal Radadia courted controversy in October last year for brandishing a gun at a toll plaza at Karzan in Vadodara district after being asked to show his identity card and his action was caught on CCTV. He later resigned as MLA and joined BJP last month.