Anti-Sterlite protesters get relief as court works overtime

After the police firing, police, besides detaining many protesters illegally, arrested 126 persons. Chandrasekar, a public prosecutor, filed a petition before Chief Judicial Magistrate Bagavathi Ammal seeking an investigation into the illegal detentions and release of those who have been arrested. The magistrate after hearing the petition directed Vilathikulam Judicial Magistrate (JM), Kalimuthuvel to visit the Vallanadu Shooting Range to investigate claims of illegal detentions. When the Judge visited the spot, he was shocked to see 95 youngsters kept there. 

After an inquiry with the police, the JM found out that all the 95 were illegally detained.

The judge immediately ordered the cops to either register a FIR and remand them or release them. Immediately, 30 of them were freed, while FIR was registered against the remaining 65.

Subsequently, all the 65 were produced before the JM-I Annamalai, who had remanded them. Meanwhile, the

Registrar of the Madurai HC Bench had issued directions to District Judge Charuhasini to hear the bail petitions of the protesters round the clock.

Thanks to the order, the judge heard the petition of all the 65 persons and granted bail to all of them.

This came as a relief for the protesters, who were mercilessly beaten by the cops while in illegal custody.

The protesters detained at Vallanadu Shooting Range were taken for a check-up to Thoothukudi GH, where many were found with bleeding injuries.

A number of them could not walk properly.

Judge Charuhasini, who was present in the court room till 11 pm on Thursday, waited till midnight to check if any more petitions were coming up for hearing. Only after confirming that there were none, she left the court. However, the judge told the lawyers thay they could approach her even at her residence, if any bail petition comes late. The lawyers were moved by the judge’s attitude, as the judiciary proved to be the lone relief point for all the protesters.

Lawyers also added that Judge Annamalai had registered the statements of protesters about the torture meted out to them at the Vallanadu shooting range. Their statements might be viewed seriously by the NHRC during its investigation into the Thoothukudi incidents.