Attack on Koodangulam Atomic Plant employees

Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Mar 31 (UNI) Six employees, including three women, of the Nuclear Power Plant being built with Russian assistance at coastal Koodangulam were injured when an unidentified group hurled stones on their vehicles today.

The incident took place this morning when the employees boarded company buses and proceeded to the project site from the township at nearby Chettikulam.

The group was reportedly supporters of the state-wide bandh called over the Supreme Court stay on reservation for OBCs.

Six of the employees sustained injuries and windshields of the vehicles were damaged in the stone-throwing.

The incident is being inquired into, police said, and added that none of the injured had come forward to lodge a complaint.

Environmental groups, civil society organisations and the locals, predominantly fishermen, had also been consistently opposing the project for more than two decades.

According to them, the project would prove to be an environmental hazard, affecting livelihood and coastal economy, dependent upon the sea. Sporadic protests had been erupting time and again opposing the nuclear power project.

A public hearing to ascertain the views of the locals has been scheduled in the town shortly.

UNI