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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Dinakaran'' attack}}
The '''''Dinakaran'' attack''' was a [[Firebombing|firebomb]] attack by [[M. K. Alagiri]]'s supporters<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rsf.org/en/news/three-newspaper-employees-killed-arson-attack-tamil-nadu-state | title=Three newspaper employees killed in arson attack in Tamil Nadu state | publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]] | date=10 May 2007 | accessdate=2 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20070521-karunanidhis-family-drama-for-power-748583-2007-05-21 | title=M.Karunanidhi's 50 years were on the cost of Tamil daily Dinakaran | work=[[India Today]]| author=S. S. Jeevan | date=21 May 2007 | accessdate=2 August 2018}}</ref> on 9 May 2007 on the [[Madurai]] office of ''[[Dinakaran]]'', a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] newspaper, which resulted in the deaths of three people.<ref name="toi-incident">{{cite news|agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-05-09/india/27884568_1_m-k-azhagiri-security-personnel-dmk|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130722211733/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-05-09/india/27884568_1_m-k-azhagiri-security-personnel-dmk|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2013|title=3 people killed in Dinakaran attack |work=[[The Times of India]]|date=9 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> The attack was a response to a survey published by ''Dinakaran'' on who people preferred as the future heir of [[M. Karunanidhi]], chief of the political party [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK). During mass protests throughout the region, the offices of the newspaper were firebombed and two press employees and a private security guard died. 17 people were charged by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]], but were all acquitted by the district court. [[Dayanidhi Maran]] resigned from the [[Cabinet of India|Union Cabinet]], where he had been the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, as a result of the controversy surrounding the attack, which created a rift between him and DMK.

==Background==

[[M. K. Stalin]] and [[M. K. Azhagiri]], sons of DMK chief [[M. Karunanidhi]] were in a [[Karunanidhi_family#Azhagiri_Vs_Stalin|succession battle]] to be the political heir of Karunanidhi.

In May 2007, the newspaper ''Dinakaran'' caused controversy when it published the results of a series of opinion polls conducted by [[A.C. Nielsen Co.]] which appeared to show that Stalin had more public approval than his elder brother Azhagiri – 70% of those polled preferred Stalin, while only 2% preferred Azhagiri (another 2% supported [[M. K. Kanimozhi]], daughter of Karunanidhi).<ref name="toi-incident"/><ref name="hindu-incident">{{cite news|author=S. Vijay Kumar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/3-killed-as-newspaper-office-is-set-on-fire/article1840356.ece|title=3 killed as newspaper office is set on fire|work=The Hindu|date=10 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> The newspaper is part of the [[Sun Group]] which is owned by [[Kalanidhi Maran]], who is grand-nephew of Karunanidhi and brother of DMK politician and ex-Union Minister [[Dayanidhi Maran]].

==Incident==
On 9 May 2007, agitated by the results of the survey, DMK cadres in the southern district of Tamil Nadu, particularly the supporters of Azhagiri, engaged in protests at [[Kamuthi]], [[Dindigul]], [[Tirunelveli]], [[Virudhunagar]] and [[Tuticorin]] and various places in the [[Theni district]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=PTI|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-05-09/india/27887875_1_newspaper-office-dmk-tamil-nadu|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130722211733/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-05-09/india/27887875_1_newspaper-office-dmk-tamil-nadu|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2013|title=DMK activists set fire to Tamil daily office, 1 killed|date=9 May 2007|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> At Madurai, they protested by burning copies of the newspapers and raising slogans against the survey and the Maran brothers. They also held a [[road block protest]], threw stones, and set seven buses on fire.<ref>{{cite web|title=மதுரை தினகரன்-சன் டிவி அலுவலகம் மீது அழகிரி ஆதரவாளர்கள் பயங்கர தாக்குதல்:3 பேர் பலி- 7 பஸ்களுக்கு தீ வைப்பு|url=http://tamil.oneindia.in/news/2007/05/09/alagiri.html|publisher=[[OneIndia]] Tamil|language=Tamil|date=9 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> Anticipating trouble, a team of anti-riot police under the Deputy Superintendent of Madurai were deployed outside the offices of the media group. Despite the police presence, a group of men hurled stones at the building housing the offices of ''Dinakaran'', [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] and [[Tamil Murasu (India)|Tamil Murasu]], all belonging to Sun Group. They also threw [[petrol bomb]]s and set the building on fire, resulting in the death by [[asphyxiation]] of two employees and a private security guard.<ref name="hindu-incident"/>

The staff of the newspaper blocked the [[National Highway 45B (India)|Chennai Madurai highway]], demanding the arrest of Azhagiri, charging him with responsibility for the incident.<ref name="hindu-incident"/> The staff also accused the police of inaction.<ref name="HinduPoliceInaction">{{cite news|author=Special Correspondent|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/police-blamed-for-inaction/article1840354.ece|title=Police blamed for inaction|work=The Hindu|date=10 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> Madurai Superintendent T. S. Anbu said there was no deliberate dereliction of duty by the police; however, the Director General of Police, D. Mukharjee, later admitted dereliction of duty by policemen and ordered a probe be conducted by a senior police official.<ref name="CBI-transfer">{{cite news|author=S. Vijay Kumar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/cbi-takes-over-investigation-into-dinakaran-attack-case/article1844864.ece|title=CBI takes over investigation into Dinakaran attack case|work=The Hindu|date=20 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>

==Aftermath==

Kalanidhi Maran, managing director of Sun Networks, called this incident an "attack on [[Freedom of press|freedom of the press]]", and vowed to fight for justice.<ref name="KMaranReply">{{cite news|agency=PTI|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-05-09/india/27877239_1_dinakaran-office-kalanidhi-maran-sun-network|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130722211756/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-05-09/india/27877239_1_dinakaran-office-kalanidhi-maran-sun-network|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2013|title=Kalanidhi Maran to fight state, Centre for justice|date=9 May 2007|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> M. Karunanidhi condemned the attack, calling it "an attack on democracy and press freedom", and promised legal action. On the whole issue of political heirs, he said that "there is no place for dynastic succession in the DMK".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/karunanidhi-no-place-for-dynastic-succession/article1840355.ece|title=Karunanidhi: no place for dynastic succession|work=The Hindu|date=10 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> He later told the [[Tamil Nadu Assembly]] that he was puzzled by the timing of the survey, and had told the ''Dinakaran'' management that such polls may create unnecessary problems, but that the newspaper had ignored his advice.<ref name="frontline"/> Several journalists' associations condemned the attack and submitted a memorandum calling for immediate police action,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/journalists-fora-to-submit-memorandum/article1841367.ece|title=Journalists' fora to submit memorandum|work=The Hindu|date=12 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> urging the government to bring charges against not only the assailants but also "the persons behind the conspiracy".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/journalists-mark-protest-against-arson-attack-on-madurai-newspaper-office/article1840779.ece|title=Journalists mark protest against arson attack on Madurai newspaper office|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>

[[Dayanidhi Maran]], who is usually present along with Karunanidhi on most party functions, stayed away from the celebration of Karunanidhi's 50th year as legislator, which was attended by [[Manmohan Singh]] and [[Sonia Gandhi]]. DMK's administrative committee suggested that Dayanidhi Maran be removed from the Union Cabinet for violating party discipline. Maran, however, resigned voluntarily, insisting that he had never taken part in anti-party activities and that someone was misleading the party chief.<ref name="frontline">{{cite web |last=Subramanian |first=T.S. |title=Mayhem in Madurai |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2410/stories/20070601004402200.htm |publisher=The Hindu Frontline |accessdate=22 July 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6IJ32ALNj?url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2410/stories/20070601004402200.htm |archivedate=22 July 2013}}</ref>

[[Kalaignar TV]], a new channel owned by the Karunanidhi family, was launched as a potential rival to Sun TV when the tensions between Karunanidhi and the Maran brothers were at their highest.<ref>{{cite news|author=D Govardan|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-06-14/news/28419240_1_raj-tv-raj-television-network-gemini-tv|title=Karunanidhi family owns New TV channel Kalaignar|work=The Economic Times|date=14 June 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> The government also announced the formation of [[Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited]], a new [[multiple-system operator]] which intended to end the monopoly of [[Sun Cable Vision]].{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} In December 2008, the Marans made peace with the Karunanidhi family.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/marans-patch-up-with-karunanidhi/article1387063.ece|title=Marans patch up with Karunanidhi|work=The Hindu|date=2 December 2008|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>

===Court proceedings===

The management of ''Dinakaran'' accused the police of ignoring their formal complaint, which specifically sought action against Azhagiri, and instead choose to act on a ''[[suo motu]]'' complaint which did not include his name.<ref>{{cite news|author=S. Vijay Kumar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/police-ignored-our-complaint-says-dinakaran/article1840702.ece|title=Police ignored our complaint, says Dinakaran|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>

On 16 May 2009, police arrested their prime suspect, [[P. Pandi]] (aka "Attack" Pandi), who later confessed to spearheading the attack.<ref name="AttackPandiNabbed">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/prime-suspect-in-dinakaran-office-attack-case-held/article1842929.ece|title=Prime suspect in ''Dinakaran'' office attack case held|work=The Hindu|date=16 May 2007|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> The case was transferred to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]],<ref name="CBI-transfer"/> which named 17 accused in a 32-page charge sheet, including a [[Deputy Superintendent]] charged with dereliction of duty.<ref name="chargesheet">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1113953/report-16-chargesheeted-in-dinakaran-attack-case|title=16 chargesheeted in Dinakaran attack case|date=6 August 2007|accessdate=23 July 2013|publisher = DNA India}}</ref> In December 2009, all 17 were acquitted by the district sessions court,<ref>{{cite news|author=Special Correspondent|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/all-acquitted-in-dinakaran-case/article91128.ece|title=All acquitted in Dinakaran case|work=The Hindu|date=10 December 2009|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> which claimed that the case had not been proven beyond all reasonable doubt. In March 2011, the [[Madras High Court]] allowed an appeal challenging this decision, despite a delay in filing the same. The CBI contended that the trial court "ought to have considered the evidentiary value of Prosecution Witness 1", even though he had "turned hostile" during the proceedings.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mohamed Imranullah S.|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/court-condones-delay-in-filing-appeal-in-dinakaran-attack-case/article1537881.ece|title=Court condones delay in filing appeal in 'Dinakaran' attack case|location=MADURAI|work=The Hindu|date=14 March 2011|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:2007 crimes in India]]
[[Category:Arson in India]]
[[Category:Violence in India]]
[[Category:2000s in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Politics of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
[[Category:Political riots]]
[[Category:Deaths from asphyxiation]]
[[Category:Madurai]]
[[Category:Mass media in Madurai]]
[[Category:Crime in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mass media in Tamil Nadu]]

Dinakaran attack - Revision history

->GreenC bot at 15:37, 16 April 2021