IPOH: Three political leaders and a farmer were arrested by the police for obstructing civil servants from carrying out their duties during a farm eviction process.
Ipoh OCPD Asst Commissioner Yahaya Hassan said the four individuals, aged from 30 to 68, were arrested at 2.30pm on Tuesday (Oct 24).
ALSO READ: PSM's Dr Jeyakumar arrested as eviction of Kanthan farmers begins
He said the police also received another report from the Perak Land and Mines Department that a woman had obstructed the department's vehicle from entering the area.
"The police came across several videos on social media by a political party over incidents that occurred while enforcement activities were being carried out under Section 425 of the National Land Code at the Silver Valley Technology Park project site in Kanthan Baru near Chemor.
"The joint operation shown in the video started at 10.05am at the site led by the department, together with several other agencies, with the presence of the police to maintain peace.
"So while the operation was ongoing, a group of farmers and political leaders had obstructed the civil servants from carrying out their duties, and were arrested," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
All four have since been released on police bail.
ACP Yahaya said those gathered left the place peacefully by 2.45pm.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) earlier issued a statement when party chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and three others were arrested.
Party secretary-general A. Sivarajan said farmers in the area were engaged in a stand-off with Land and Mines Office enforcement officers.
He claimed that an officer pushed activist Chong Yee Shan in the commotion, causing her to fall and break some teeth.
Several videos of the incident were also posted on social media sites.
