Woman threatens self-immolation against officials apathy

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, Aug 15 (UNI) Anxious moments prevailed at the Seethakathi Sethupathi stadium here when a woman sitting in the freedom fighters gallery threatened to immolate herself during the 62nd Independence day celebrations today.

All of a sudden, the 40-year-old woman N Muthukumari got up from her seat and threatened to immolate herself accusing the revenue officials of failing to provide alternative site or adequate compensation for a piece of land donated by the government for a freedom fighter family that was later acquired by the officials for implementing a government scheme.

District Collector R Kirlosh Kumar, who was honouring the freedom fighters after unfurling the national flag on seeing the protest by the woman hurriedly left the place.

It was a tale of woe for the family of Neelamega Thevar, a freedom fighter from Appanur village near Kadaladi in the district who died of illness a decade ago.

Considering the family circumstances of the freedom fighter, the Tamil Nadu Government donated 2.5 cents of poromboke land to N Ganesan, son of Neelamega Thevar three years ago along with necessary documents. Later, the revenue officials acquired the land under the pretext of implementing the Village Development Programme.

So far, no alternative site or due compensation was provided to the family. Notwithstanding several memoranda to the district administration, no action was taken.

Protesting over this, Ganesan, an agricultural labourer and his mother N Ramammal yesterday threatened to show black flag during the flag hoisting ceremony on the Independence Day and to observe an indefinite fast. They were arrested by the police last evening.

The woman, elder sister of Ganesan was removed from the gallery by the police.

However, official sources denied the allegation of Ganesan's family stating that the government had offered them an alternative site, but the family refused to accept it and demanded money instead of land.

UNI GSM ROY AE BST2028