Police have arrested 109 Human Rights Party members, including 8 women, for participating in an illegal gathering in the city to protest the Interlok issue.
City police chief deputy comm Datuk zulkifli Abdullah said police had to act to maintain order and security within the city.
"It is regrettable but we had advised them multiple times to not go forward with it.
"It shows that they have no respect for the law," he said in a press conference at city police headquarters on Sunday.
Of the 109 arrested, aged 18-66, 8 are believed to be the leaders of the group.
"All of the 109 are being investigated under section 27(5) of the police act while the eight leaders are also being investigated under section 45(1) of the Societies Act," said DCP Zulkifli.
Out of the 109, two men were arrested for obstructing police from performing their duties.
"They claim they are members of an alternative media, we will investigate their claims.
CP zulkifli said that the group who participated in Sunday's illegal gathering to protest the interlok issue were an isolated group.
"They do not speak for the whole Indian community as we have been approached by about 13 Indian NGOs supporting our stance against the illegal gatherings," he said.
He said the NGOs agreed there were better ways to get their message across.
The arrests were made as the protesters walked from the Rennaisance Hotel to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) in small groups.
HRP president P. Uthayakumar was arrested when leaving his residence at Pantai Hill Park here at 8am and taken to the Hang Tuah police station.
The others arrested include Kedah HRP chief Ramu Ramasamy and a Penang HRP leader.
It is learnt that those arrested were taken to the Sentul police headquarters.
Earlier, a crowd had gathered in front of the hotel, preparing to march towards the KLCC.
Two men were initially arrested near the hotel as they walked towards the KLCC. The main crowd was contained by police at the hotel.
The crowd later broke up in an attempt to evade police and make their way to the KLCC.
Meanwhile, a group of about 30 people waited outside city police headquarters demanding the release of their leaders.
Police allowed them but warned them against blocking traffic.
They dispersed after about two hours.
