Day after arrests, life still affected in protest-hit Kathiramangalam

Police registered cases against them for revolting against ONGC, produced them before the Kumbakonam Additional District Sessions Court and lodged them in Tiruchy Central Prison under judicial custody on Saturday.

The residents of Kathiramangalam gathered in front of the Kumbakonam Railway Station on Saturday and demanded the release of the arrested persons. 

Traders in Kathiramangalam village too downed shutters condemning the Friday police action, in which many sustained injuries. 

Heavy contingent of police personnel were posted in the village and outsiders were allowed only after thorough verification. 

Meanwhile, the ONGC officials, who visited the spot late on Friday plugged the leakages temporarily and replaced the pipelines. 

On Saturday, District Collector A Annadurai, who visited the spot, instructed the Block Development Officers to remove the oil spill from the paddy field with the help of MGNREGA workers. 

In Chennai, the MDMK and PMK demanded the governments in the state and Centre to scrap the hydro-carbon project by ONGC in Kathiramangalam village. 

Insisting on it, PMK youth wing leader and MP Anbumani Ramadoss said, “Since crude oil has spilled from the oil wells, such detrimental project should be withdrawn.” General Secretary of MDMK, Vaiko, in a statement said, “It is highly condemnable that the ONGC is going ahead with its plan to lay pipes for exploring the hydro-carbon project, besides stiff opposition from the villagers.” 

The Centre should immediately withdraw the project, as it would affect agricultural lands, he stressed.

Police have beefed up security on the Marina beach following information of a protest in support of the Kathiramangalam agitation, where protesters were lathicharged by the police on Friday. Following the incident, the city police received information that sections of youths were planning to demonstrate at the beach in support of the protesters at Kathiramangalam. Around 200 police personnel were deployed from Napier’s Bridge to Light House. The beach stretch come under tight vigil.