Sources said more than 300 protestors from parties like MDMK, Indian National League and Tamil National Movement courted arrest along with the two leaders near the Munroe statue in Chennai while trying to go ahead with the rally.

Leaders and hundreds of supporters of Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), TMM and MDMK began the protest demonstration march from Monroe statue in Chennai wearing badges of their respective organizations and bearing placards of Tamilchelvan's photo.

Chanting pro-LTTE and Tamil Eelam slogans, Vaiko charged the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre with "supplying arms to the Sri Lankan army, which are being used against innocent Tamils."

Criticising the Tamil Nadu Government for not allowing them to bring out a rally condoling Tamilchelvan's death, he demanded to know as to why Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had penned a eulogy on the leader's death.

"We have gathered here to express not only the feelings of Tamils in Tamil Nadu but all over the world," Vaiko said.

Nedumaran condemned the "fascist rule" in Tamil Nadu for denying permission to the rally.

Protestors, including Vaiko and Nedumaran carried pictures of Tamilchelvan and other LTTE cadres who were killed in the air raid.

Witnesses in the rally said Vaiko and Pazha Nedumaran arrived in a vehicle holding Tamilchelvan's photo placards where the demonstrators were and the police stopped their vehicle.

The two leaders started addressing the gathering from their vehicle and strongly condemned GoSL for killing Tamilchelvan.

'The Sri Lankan government is engaged in killing hundreds and thousands of Eelam Tamils and we are deeply concerned about the Indian assistance given to Sri Lanka in the form of radars and military equipments,' Mr. Vaiko said.

Pazha Nedumaran too condemned Sri Lanka for indiscriminate killing of Tamils and abusing their rights in the island country.

Both leaders appealed to the Indian Central Government to immediately stop all military assistance to Sri Lanka.

After delivery of their speeches, Tamil Nadu police deployed around the gathering arrested Vaiko and Pazha Nedumaran.

The police also resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesting demonstrators when the two arrested leaders were taken away.

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