Anti-Kudankulam protestors slapped with murder charges

Tirunelveli, April 16: There seem to be more trouble in store for People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy convenor SP Udayakumar who was in charge of spearheading the anti-Kudankulam nuclear plant protests in Tamil Nadu that failed to see fruition. A panchayat president has levelled a murder charge against Udayakumar with the police registering a case against him.

The allegations made by Idinthakarai panchayat president Sagaya Peklin Egecinec cite that a gang “instigated by PMANE activists” had attacked her and her husband Sagayaraj on Saturday night. A case has been registered against Udhayakumar, his associate M Pushparayan and eight other PMANE activists.

The Panchayat president alleged that the crime was committed to stop the panchayat from bringing a resolution in its council meeting for using special funds sanctioned by Tamil Nadu government for the development of the village. The police added that two relatives of the panchayat president has been injured and admitted to a hospital. Cases were registered against the PMANE activists under various sections of IPC including 307 (attempt to murder).

Following a round of talks and negotiations, the impasse over the Kudankulam plant saw an end with the Tamil Nadu government announcing Rs 500 crore special development package for the area where the project is located. This led to Tirunelveli District Collector Selvaraj asking all panchayat presidents for proposals on how to develop the villages by convening a panchayat council and passing a resolution.

The police, however, stated that the anti-nuclear activists were against the panchayat passing the resolution as they feared the same would affect the movement against the nuclear plant.

Various other allegations surfaced against Udayakumar with the Regional Passport office in Madurai issuing a notice to him and seeking to surrender his passport as there were about 98 criminal cases pending against him. Udayakumar in reply had sent a legal notice to the Passport Officer against this.

OneIndia News