Tamil Nadu govt revokes Goondas Act pressed against Arul Arumugam — one of the 7 farmers held for protest against SIPCOT project

On November 4, 2023, the police arrested 20 protesters based on an FIR filed in August. Tiruvannamalai district Collector B Murugesh passed orders to invoke the Goondas Act against seven farmers, including M Thirumal, 30, K Pachaiyappan, 47, M Devan, 45, B Bakkiyaraj, 38, C Masilamani, 45, N Sozhan, 30, and A Arul, 45, of various villages. The officials noted that the Goondas Act was invoked against individuals found indulging in activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to press charges under the Goondas Act drew flak from the Opposition parties and activists who said the government is trying to suppress the fundamental rights of the farmers.

Following this, Stalin ordered the cancellation of the charges under the Goondas Act against six farmers, except Arumugam, who remained locked up at the Palayamkottai prison in Tirunelveli.

The state government had claimed that Arumugam, a native of Krishnagiri, has no land in Tiruvannamalai and was instigating the farmers to revolt against the government.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam (Tamil Nadu Farmer’s Protection Union) leader Eesan Murugasamy said, “A total of 11 false cases were filed against Arul Arumugam and they have moved the court seeking bail. They are hopeful that he will be released on bail by next week.”

“The order has been issued, but Arumugam is yet to receive it. On behalf of all the farmers, who were arrested and treated like anti-social elements, we demand the government to provide them fair compensation for the sufferings they endured,” he noted.

The farmers of Melma and other neighbouring villages had been continuously protesting demanding the government to revoke charges against Arumugam and release him and drop the proposed expansion plan.

On December 2, 2023, representatives of farmers’ organisations and civic groups, including Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Pachai Tamizhagam Katchi, Poovulagin Nanbargal and Makkal Iyakkangalin Desiya Kootamaipu, addressed a press briefing where they placed their demands before the state government over the ongoing issue.

They claimed that the government had withdrawn the charges under the Goondas Act against six people after threatening their families and getting them to agree that they will not participate in any more protests.

For the proposed expansion project, the government is trying to acquire over 3,000 acre of land in Melma and surrounding villages.

In a series of statements and media briefings, the Tamil Nadu government had claimed that the project provides employment opportunities, as was the case during the earlier two projects in the district, and claimed that only seven acre of land is cultivable.

The government had said that out of the 1,881 land owners, only 239 raised objections to the acquisition, that too because they were allegedly instigated by some people with vested interests.