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Former National Security Advisor MK Narayanan Attacked By Pro-Tamil Activist In Chennai

Slipper Hurled At Former National Security Advisor MK Narayanan By Pro-Tamil Activist In Chennai
NEW DELHI, INDIA - AUGUST 26: National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister MK Narayanan attends the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and State Anti-Corruption Bureaux conference in New Delh on August 26, 2009. CBI officials and heads of State Anti-Corruption Bureaux from 28 states and 7 Union Territories are expected to have talks aimed at strengthening the struggle against corruption in India during the two-day conference. (Photo by Shekhar Yadav/India Today Group/Getty Images)
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NEW DELHI, INDIA - AUGUST 26: National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister MK Narayanan attends the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and State Anti-Corruption Bureaux conference in New Delh on August 26, 2009. CBI officials and heads of State Anti-Corruption Bureaux from 28 states and 7 Union Territories are expected to have talks aimed at strengthening the struggle against corruption in India during the two-day conference. (Photo by Shekhar Yadav/India Today Group/Getty Images)

Former National Security Advisor (NSA) MK Narayanan on Wednesday came under a slipper attack in Chennai allegedly by a pro-Tamil activist at the end of a seminar on the future of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India, according to reports.

After his speech, Narayanan had climbed down from the dais, when the youth walked towards him with a slipper in hand and threw it at him. The slipper glanced off the head of Narayanan, who was being escorted off the stage by N Ram, the chairman of Kasturi and Sons Ltd, and former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu. He did not suffer any injury.

Pro-Eelam groups had threatened a stir against Narayanan's visit and the police responded by tightening security at the venue. This is being seen as a serious breach in security as the police had frisked every member of the audience. Times of India reported that the man identified as Prabhakar, 35, a native of Pudukottai, had used a false name to enter the seminar hall.

Police arrested the man, whose name The Hindu reported as Prabhakaran, and said he is a Sri Lankan Tamil.

"When he was coming out, he hit the former Security Advisor. He was immediately taken away by the police. He shouted slogans against Mr. Narayanan," a police officer told The Hindu.

Poilce said participants and visitors had formed a cordon around Narayanan till he could be escorted out.

"When Hindu refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been assured of getting Indian citizenship, I am sure Sri Lankan citizens will not be left behind. There cannot be any compulsion. Sri Lankan refugees cannot be forced to go back home," Narayanan had said at the seminar.

The Hindustan Times reported that the man was shouting "Narayanan is responsible for the plight of Lankan Tamils".

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.