Chemical-laced water sprayed on Uthaya's supporters

Chaos broke out at the Brickfields police station in Kuala Lumpur this morning as the police sprayed chemical-laced water at about 300 supporters of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar.

The supporters were accompanying nine people representing nine states and a relative of Uthayakumar, who intended to lodge police reports alleging that the Hindraf leader was denied proper medical attention for his ailment.

Upon reaching the police station, several of the group’s representatives were let into the police station to negotiate on the number of people allowed to lodge the police report.

However, as the group's representatives were about to enter the police station, Brickfields police chief Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid gave the group 10 seconds to disperse.

“Disperse now. Only those lodging the report can remain. That was the agreement,” said Abdul Bari over the loudhailer, but the group failed to disperse.

Three hospitalised

Following this, Abdul Bari issued another warning for the group to disperse within three minutes. When the group failed to comply, chemical-laced water was fired into the crowd.

Most of the crowd subsequently dispersed save for a few, including Kapar MP S Manikavasagam and Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas.

The duo were among 17 individuals who were arrested, according to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who arrived at the scene later to act as the group’s lawyer.

"I have spoken to the district police chief and I can confirm that 17 people have been arrested by the police, including a member of parliament," Gobind said.

"Three people, a woman and two men, have also been sent to hospital as they were injured when police carried out the attack," he added.

Two ambulances arrived after the melee and entered the police station.

He said those arrested were being held for failing to disperse under police orders but he did not know if they would be charged.

The police could not immediately be reached for comment.

As the chaos ensued, there was a bizarre moment when several individuals walked into the police station demanding that they be arrested.

Among others, they include Manikavasagam, Jayathas, Uthyakumar’s sister, Waytha Nayagi, and Uthayakumar’s sister-in-law, K Shanti.

Hindraf coordinator R Thanenthiran, said he and opposition lawmaker Manickavasagam were negotiating with police in filing close to 50 police reports when they were hit.

"All we were trying to do is file police reports over the government's lack of medical treatment for detained Hindraf leader Uthayakumar and the police water cannoned us," he told AFP .

Cops have ‘different standards’

Speaking to reporters later, Gobind alleged that there appears to be “different standards” applied by the police during crowd control exercises.

“In Parliament, two MPs were roughed up but there was no action by the police. But when the Indians want to lodge a police report, we are arrested... what is their problem?” he exclaimed.

Gobind said the inspector-general of police owes the public an explanation for the police’s actions, adding that he hoped the police would not press charges against those detained as they were merely attempting to lodge a police report.

Uthayakumar’s supporters nationwide are lodging a spate of police reports against the authorities for allegedly failing to provide him proper medical treatment.

Uthayakumar suffers from diabetes and earlier this month, he broke several toes resulting in a massive swelling on his foot.

His supporters fear that without proper medical treatment, his foot may have to be amputated.

The authorities have denied the claim, saying he has been treated by government doctors.

Last week, Manikavasagam issued an ultimatum to the government to provide Uthayakumar proper medical treatment or face “hundreds” of police reports.

Suhakam urged to act

In an immediate reaction Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoothy condemned the police action against "peaceful citizens who had exercised their rights to lodge police reports".

"It is sad the way the police have acted. The image and professionalism of the police force are gravely affected by their conduct," he said in a short text message from his hospital bed in London.

Waythamoorthy has been admitted at a coronary care unit since yesterday for irregular heartbeat as well as for the swelling of his heart. An emergency procedure is expected to be conducted on him on Monday.

He also urged the Malaysian Human Rights Commission to immediately launch an inquiry on its own into the police actions today.

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