EPS speaks on Kathiramangalam violence
- DMK Kovai Seliyan demanded that the cases filed against the villagers should be withdrawn.
- Congress Ramasamy demanded that the government should take action against the policemen for assaulting the villagers.
- Palaniswami justified the police action in the village.
Follow“The protestors continued pelting stones and resorted to violence even after the instruction to disperse peacefully. Hence the police men had no choice than to use mild force against them” says Palaniswami.
During special resolution hour in the Assembly:
DMK Kovai Seliyan: “ In Kathiramangalam, a pipe that carried the extracted crude oil has got broken and caught fire. When the villagers protested against this they were baton-charged by the policemen. The cases filed against the villagers should be withdrawn”
Congress Ramasamy: “An action should be taken against the police men for assaulting the villagers”
E Palaniswami: From 1st June 2001, based on the mining lease agreement, the ONGC company has been taking crude oil from the leased lands of the private owners. During those years the work was carried out without any issues.
On May 18, ONGC took some equipment to the village in order to renovate the borewells but, it was misunderstood that they are planning to extract methane. A protest was staged on May 19. In order to solve this issue, the Kumbakonam Sub Collector held a meeting along with the villagers and the ONGC officials on May 25, 27 and 31 but it ended up in vain.
Making use of this opportunity, the anti-methane protestors tried to stop the officials from working. They were arrested.
93 people gathered around the well, demanding their release. They were also arrested and released on bail.
On June 5, 400 people gathered on the road to stage a protest. They agreed to disperse after a discussion with the police.
On June 30, a leak in the pipe in the area near Kathiramangalam vana durgai amman temple was reported. When the police and officials rushed to the spot, a group of 150 people stopped them from inspecting the leakage. They demanded that the collector should come for the discussion.
They did not oblige to the revenue officer and the police men.
They lit fire in the hay stock and pelted stone.
Two police men and one villager were injured. Police vehicle was damaged. Police men asked them to disperse peacefully but they did not oblige. Since they indulged in violence the police men had no choice than to use the mild force.
Even after that, they disconnected the connection of the pipes. 10 were arrested and brought to judicial custody for the processing. The situation in Kathiramnagalam is calm and adequate security has been deployed”.
The discussion continued further.
