The police moved in swiftly to disperse some 40 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters who had gathered outside Bukit Aman following the arrest of the movement’s key leaders.

At about 5pm, the crowd converged at a sidewalk near the entrance to the federal police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur after receiving news that five Hindraf leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Backed by about 70 police personnel - including a dozen in riot gear - Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman warned the crowd to disperse at about 5.30pm.

The supporters dispersed within minutes and no arrests were reported.

Speaking to reporters later, Zulkarnain said the cordon would continue indefinitely.

“We would wait until we have further information (about Hindraf supporters’ movements),” he said.

Ceramah to go on

Those arrested under ISA are Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar, lawyers M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau and organising secretary T Vasanthakumar.

Initially, Hindraf supporters were under the impression that the five were held at Bukit Aman.

However, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan announced that the five were already taken to the Kamunting Detendion Centre in Perak.

Hindraf representative S Manikavasagam told Malaysiakini that supporters are expected to gather at Kamunting on Sunday to show support for the five detainees.

Hindraf has also urged supporters to attend a PKR-organised ceramah at Jalan Kebun, Klang where the party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim will give a speech on Indian issues.

The ceramah is being held on private land and police permission was not sought for the event.

At 7pm, ceramah organiser and PKR deputy secretary-general Dr Xavier Jeyakumar said save for a few plainclothes police personnel, there are no signs of an impending crackdown.