Kathiramangalam protesters vow to continue fight

After witnessing leakage in the pipelines of ONGC in Kathiramangalam, the residents, led by professor Jayaraman, coordinator of anti-methane project, staged a protest against ONGC in June and a case was filed against Jayaraman (63) of Mayiladuthurai, Santhosh (25) of Thirumanthurai Thoppu, Dharmaraj (39), Murugan (38), Ramesh (32), Saminathan (30), Silambarasan (27), Senthil Kumar (42) and Venkatraman (31), all from Kathiramangalam and Viduthalai Sudar alias Baskar (48) of Kumbakonam under various section based on the complaint lodged by Tiruvidaimaruthur Tahsildar Ganeshwaran. Later, all the 10 were arrested and lodged in the Central Prison in Tiruchy. ONGC too filed a complaint against them.

The Madruai Bench of Madras High Court granted bail in both the cases and all the 10 protesters were released from the prison here. They were welcomed at the prison entrance by the advocates and a few residents of Kathiramangalam. Later, they reached Kumbakonam where they were accorded a grand reception by the residents.

Speaking to reporters, Jayaraman said, “We are booked under false cases. We are not the real accused, but the ONGC is the accused number one and the police, who diluted the protest and the Collector, who failed to talk to the people, are the persons to be blamed.”

He urged the Centre to pay attention to the protest in Kathiramangalam and conduct a fair study to understand the real situation and to prevent further damage to the farming community.