Kudankulam row: Anti-nuke leader Udayakumar not to surrender,says Kejriwal

Police said they were checking vehicles and sealed areas around the nuclear plant as shops in nearby Idinthakarai and some other areas remained closed for the third day today. Bus services remained off roads in and around Kudankulam.

Inspector General of Police Rajeshi Dass told reporters that police were searching for Udayakumar and several others in connection with the Monday8217;s violence.

The stepped up security came as KNPP officials continued to make preparations for loading enriched uranium into the first reactor,which according to plant sources was expected to start in the next few days.

The current bout of intensified protests,including the failed bid to lay siege to the plant,was launched by People8217;s Movement Against Nuclear Energy to prevent loading of fuel for which regulatory authorities gave the approval recently.

A day after PMANE Convener Udayakumar made a dramatic appearance and announced he would turn up before police last night,anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal today announced he would not surrender.

Shortly after he made the surrender announcement even while the police were on the lookout for him,Udayakumar was whisked away in a boat by his supporters who rejected his offer.

8220;I met Udayakumar in the morning and requested him not to surrender. He should use all legal remedies8230;it is extremely important that he remains outside and should not offer himself to police. He is convinced and he agreed,8221; Kejriwal,who has backed the anti-KNPP movement,told reporters.

Kejriwal,a member of the disbanded Team Anna,also attacked the UPA at the Centre and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for the police action against the protesters and 8220;harassing8221; locals,who are up in arms against the project.

The agitators today ended their 48-hour relay fast to protest the police action which saw them resorting to lathicharge,lobbing teargas shells and conducting house-to-house searches.

Though the fast was to continue till this evening,they gave it up following a request by Kejriwal.

In a shot in the arm for the protesters,DMK President M Karunanidhi slammed the Jayalalithaa government for use of force on them,saying the Centre and state should immediately initiate a dialogue to find an amicable solution.

Squarely blaming his arch rival AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for the present situation,he said her government initially 8220;encouraged8221; the protesters but was now trying to suppress them,aggravating the situation.

MDMK chief Vaiko today visited the protest venue at Idinthakarai to express his solidarity with the protesters.

Meanwhile,police charged the PMANE with using people as shield and said they were determined to arrest Udayakumar.

Tirunelveli District Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidari accused Udayakumar and his group of 8220;spreading lies and rumours8221; to mobilise people and indulge in violence.

He said steps had been intensified to arrest those responsible for the violence on Monday.

However,Udayakumar was quoted by sources close to him as having denied the charge.

The anti-KNPP protest had turned violent on Monday and spread to other areas including neighbouring Tuticorin district where a fishermen was killed in police firing.

Meanwhile,two PIL petitions filed in Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the authorities to put an end to 8220;police excesses8221; against anti-KNPP protesters and to take constructive steps to bring normalcy in the village were posted to another bench for hearing tomorrow.

A Marx,state convenor of People8217;s Union for Human Rights,in his petition,said police resorted to firing when there was no provocation on part of the public and this led to the death of an innocent fisherman in Tuticorin district.

He also alleged supply of drinking water,power and other essential commodities had been blocked in Idinthakarai.

When the PILs came up before Justices M Duraiswamy and P P S Janaradhana Raja today,the former said as he had already heard Kudankulam matter in a sitting with Justice P Jyothimani,he wanted the two pleas may be posted to another bench.