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| CURRENT AFFAIRS |
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KOODANKULAM |
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Police won’t stir hornet’s nest at protest site
Slammed for her heavy handed approach, Tamil Nadu CM steers clear of going in for the “final kill”
Sai Manish
New Delhi
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Locals congregate to protest the government's clearance to the controversial nuke plant
Photos: Kebiston Fernando |
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The top bosses of the Tamil Nadu police are steering clear of using force against close to 4000 men, women and children who are protesting near the Koodankulam nuke plant site in the village of Idinthakarai. “Our primary job is to ensure that the work inside the nuclear power plant continues. Right now the site is secure and there is no threat of any protests that might stall the work at the plant,” said Vijendra Bidari, the SP, Tirunelveli. Bidari, however, refused to elaborate on the heavy security that has been thrown around the group of protesters, many of whom are on a fast unto death.
The cautious approach of the police so far has been dictated by political reasons. AIADMK sources have confirmed that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has been unhappy about reports that the police have forced thousands of women and children into a corner through excessive use of force. This comes after reports in the media about restricted movement for journalists and a virtual land and sea blockade that has been imposed on this fishing hamlet. There’s been no word on the arrest of P Udayakumar who stands charged of sedition and waging war against the state.
“The investigating officer will have to take a call on arrests. Our job is only to prevent the protesters from stopping work at the plant,” said Bidari. Udayakumar along with other activists and villagers have been on a fast unto death even as reports emerge that his wife's school has been targeted in Tirunelveli district by politically affiliated goons.
There are fears that if the protesters inside the village do not court arrest then the police would have little option except storming the hamlet and evacuating the protesters. Civil society activists in Tamil Nadu have been outraged over the heavy handed treatment being meted out to peaceful protesters.
Sai Manish is a Correspondent with Tehelka.
sai.manish@tehelka.com |
