| Hours before the protest organised by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is due to take place, the police have already begun firing tear gas to disperse crowds in three areas in Kuala Lumpur - Jalan Ampang, the KLCC and Batu Caves.
The police fired tear gas at Jalan Ampang at about 7.40am today to disperse a large crowd who had gathered there. The area has been declared a curfew zone by the police, who have issued a ‘arrest on sight’ order.
Earlier, the police also used tear gas to disperse a crowd at Batu Caves and the KLCC areas.
Despite roadblocks and a tight police cordon to seal off the city, thousands of Indians from all around the country have arrived in Kuala Lumpur since last night.
Some of the protesters were already at Jalan Ampang near Nikko Hotel early this morning.
Despite repeated firing of chemical-laced water against the 2,000-strong crowd, the protestors appeared defiant and refused to budge.
Police presence is heavy and a few arrests have been made. Part of Jalan Ampang is already closed but protesters continue to filter in from all sides.
March to begin at 10am
The rally has been declared illegal by the police, who have also obtained an unprecedented court order to prohibit people from taking part in it.
Large groups of people are gathering at various spots around the city centre, all hoping to break the police cordon to march towards the British High Commission in Jalan Ampang at about 10am.
Jalan Ampang and three other roads have been closed since 3am to stop the crowd from arriving near the High Commission.
The security is also tight at KL Sentral, the hub for public transportation in the city. However inter-city commuter train services and the Putra LRT services are operating as usual as of 7am.
The planned protest is to support a lawsuit against the former colonial power to denounce what they say is the continuing discrimination of Indians in Malaysia.
The lawsuit filed recently seeks US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) compensation for the estimated two million ethnic Indians whose ancestors were brought over here as labourers by Britain in the 1800s.
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