Tuticorin villagers accuse Left outfit of inciting violence

Blaming Makkal Adhikaram for the picketing, Madathur villagers in Thoothukudi district accused the outfit and its allied organisations of “changing their hearts.”

In a petition to the District Legal Services Authority on July 2, the villagers sought legal help apprehending that several residents may be arrested in connection with the violence.

The villagers said in their petition they had assured the district authorities at a peace meeting on May 20 that they would hold a peaceful demonstration at SAV grounds on May 22 to “draw the attention of the government” to the alleged pollution caused by the unit.

However, two advocates and their associates, “Who belong to Makkal Adikaram changed our hearts” in favour of besieging the District Collectorate, they claimed. The two lawyers are now claiming they had nothing to do with the protest, the villagers said.

“We request (the authorities) to avoid linking us with Makkal Adhikaram,” they said in their petition, and sought legal support to avert “police trouble” and lead a peaceful life.

When asked why the petition was filed long after the violent incidents, D Pon Pandi, the main signatory to the petition and a Madathur resident said, “I have about 40 cases registered against me. We, the Madathur villagers, have got nothing to do with the violence. That is why we have sought legal help.” Earlier fishermen from Threspuram have accused the outfit of fomenting trouble in their petition to the DLSA.