TN to counter PILs on police action at Koodankulam

A division bench comprising Justices K Suguna and M Vijayaraghavan has asked the State government to file a counter affidavit, on two public interest writ petitions alleging police atrocities in Koodankulam.

The petitioners, S Vanchi Nathan and A Marx, alleged that the police barged into many households in Koodankulam and ransacked the belongings of the villagers.

On Monday, arguing for Vanchi Nathan, counsel Prabhu Rajadurai said a judicial probe should be ordered into the alleged atrocities.

Relying on the apex court’s suo motu cognizance after the Ram Leela agitation, the counsel said the High Court should order a probe to unravel the details of alleged police excesses in Koodankulam.

He also produced before the bench, a report compiled by a team of fact finding team led by S Raju, State secretary of Human Rights Protection Centre.

Similarly, counsel A Rajini arguing for Marx, claimed women were harassed during the alleged atrocities. She also questioned as to why no FIR has been registered on the death of Sagayam, a fisherman, during the agitation.

Additional Advocate General K Chellapandian, appearing for the State, said that actions were initiated by the police only after the villagers attempted to lay siege to the power plant through the seashore. The case has been adjourned to Friday.

Meanwhile, in a counter affidavit filed at the court, S Murugandiappan, the Block Development Officer of Radhapuram Panchayat Union in Tirunelveli district, refuted the charges of the petitioners that the supply of essential commodities like food, water, electricity etc to Koodankulam and surrounding villages were suspended.

“Though the protest against KKNPP continues for the past one year, there is no interruption in the supply of drinking water to the public. Water supply is being attended with utmost care and sincerity”, he said while also claiming that no public has ever complained about shortage in water supply.

Sources said groceries had been supplied through the ration shops in Koodankulam, Idinthakarai and Kuttapuli, and the normal life of the public was not disrupted during the agitation.