A short prayer ceremony to mark the Internal Security Act (ISA) detention of five Hindraf leaders two years ago was marred by the arrest of one of the movement's key leaders S Jayathas.

His alleged crime - wearing an anti-ISA button badge.

hindraf isa prayer 131209 handcuff Shortly after leaving a Hindu temple in Bangsar Utama where the prayers were held, a uniformed police officer grabbed Jayathas and said the arrest was because the latter had sported the button badge.

Jayathas offered no resistance but repeatedly asked the surrounding police personnel if the badge was illegal, but this was met with silence.

Leader of the prayer session and Hindraf's former legal advisor P Uthayakumar then tried to query the grounds of the arrest, but to no avail.

"Under Article 5 (1) of the federal constitution, you must state the grounds for the arrest. Do you not know the law?" he was heard asking the police, but was ignored.

Jayathas was later released at about 6pm. He has been asked to report back to the Travers police station on Dec 28.

Earlier, Uthayakumar led some 40 Hindraf supporters at the Hindu temple along Lengkok Abdullah, Bangsar Utama in prayer for the fulfilment of the movement's goals.

They were all dressed in black as a symbol of protest against the use of the ISA, which allows for detention without trial.

Some 50 police personnel, including a dozen in riot gear, had gathered near the temple since early morning, but allowed the group to gather inside the temple at about 2pm after some initial hesitation.

‘We have a right to pray'

Since he was told that the prayer session was deemed an "illegal gathering", Uthayakumar instructed his supporters to disperse in groups of three after the event was over.

Speaking at a press conference later, Uthayakumar criticised the police intimidation at a peaceful prayer ceremony and the subsequent arrest of Jayathas.

"We were just exercising our constitutional right to pray in a temple," he said.

hindraf isa prayer 131209 police car He said that the police had marked Jayathas because he was a key figure in the newly formed Human Rights Party, the newly formed political arm of Hindraf. Jayathas is the party's information chief.

"The irony is that three days ago, Jayathas collected this certificate in recognition of his contribution towards human rights, and three days later, he is arrested," said Uthayakumar.

He said Hindraf supporters will be lodging a police report later, at the Jalan Travers police station where Jayathas was , to inform the police that the he must be freed because he has to undergo dialysis treatment tomorrow.

Two years on, Uthayakumar more determined

Today marks the second anniversary of Uthayakumar's arrest under the ISA, along with M Manoharan, T Vasanthakumar, V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan.

hindraf isa prayer 131209 uthayakumar The five were detained for the role in Hindraf which had organised a massive street protest in Nov 25, 2007 to vent the Indian community's displeasure at the government.

The five were released in two batches earlier this year.

Reflecting on his 500 days in detention, Uthayakumar today said that he was more determined now to help fulfil the Hindraf's 18-point demand from the government.

"I feel stronger, and we are not going to give up," he told reporters.

On Hindraf's written request to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for a dialogue, submitted on Nov 25 this year, Uthayakumar said there was no response thus far.