NLC land acquisition row: PMK leader Anbumani detained as protest turn violent, cadres pelt stones at police, attack buses
Ramadoss said he demanded the immediate ouster of the NLC and that the protest would continue if the state government did not stop it from acquiring lands for its expansion project.
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As the PMK leader began to cross the barricades, the police detained him and other protesters. Some cadres climbed on the police bus while others sat on the road. Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss and supporters were detained by the police Friday after a protest at Neyveli in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district against Neyveli Lignite Corporation’s (NLC) takeover of farmlands for a mine expansion project led to violence, and party cadres allegedly pelted stones at the police.
Delivering a speech in front of the arch gate of the central public sector enterprise, amid hundreds of his party cadres carrying placards and raising slogans, Ramadoss demanded the NLC to stop acquiring lands of farmers and noted this was not development.
“Get out NLC; your services are not required. Even if you provide Rs 5 crore compensation, we don’t need you here. You have polluted the land, and people’s health is affected daily. This is not just the NLC’s issue; this is an issue for our entire state. I feel very disappointed that our farmers’ union, which should have been here by this time, is remaining silent. They reach Delhi to protest why they haven’t come here?” Ramadoss asked.
The police pressed riot control vehicles into service and resorted to lathi charge. They also used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters.
As the PMK leader began to cross the barricades, the police detained him and other protesters. Some cadres climbed on the police bus while others sat on the road.
Addressing the media before the police took him away, Ramadoss said he demanded the immediate ouster of the NLC and that the protest would continue if the state government did not stop it from acquiring lands for its expansion project.
“Providing electricity by destroying the farmlands and livelihood of people is a crime. This is wrong; we cannot accept the Tamil Nadu government supporting NLC on this issue. They need to stop acquiring the lands of the farmers. Our protests will continue till our demands are met,” he said.
Visuals of PMK cadres dragging the barricades placed for protection and raising slogans against the police personnel were shared widely on social media.
The police pressed riot control vehicles into service and resorted to lathi charge. They also used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters.
According to sources, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal was going to the protest site. The police said several men who attacked the cops and damaged vehicles were arrested, and the situation was brought under control.
Several shops around Neyveli town pulled their shutters down due to the hostile situation. Government buses which ply through the Cuddalore-Neyveli range to reach other cities, including Salem and Tiruchirapalli, were reportedly temporarily halted due to the violent protest.
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