Methane project: Jayaraman held on charges of instigating stir, disturbing peace

Residents of Kathiramangalam had staged a series of agitations in the past opposing the ONGC operations to extract methane at a site near the village. Even while the protests were on ONGC pipes often broke and the crude sludge flowed into paddy fields causing extensive damage to the crop and the soil. According to the residents, the ground water in the region was also getting affected due to the operations by the oil major. Following the stiff opposition from locals, the ONGC recently suspended its activities at the site.

Meanwhile, on Friday, several vehicles arrived at the ONGC site at Melaveli near Kathiramangalam for maintenance work. Anxious and angry residents along with Prof Jayaraman and Raju, the local DMK branch secretary and one of the organisers of the protest, rushed to the entrance of the site to find out what work was going to be carried out.

In an attempt to avoid unnecessary tension, a team, led by Ramachandran, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tiruvidaimarudur, forcibly removed Jayaraman and Raju despite opposition from residents. The residents argued that they haven’t trespassed into the ONGC site and demanded the reason for the detention of the two persons.

As there was no clear explanation from the police, residents threatened to stage a protest demanding the release of the duo. Following this the ONGC cancelled its activities on Friday.

MDMK leader Vaiko on Friday, condemned the arrest of activist Professor Jayaraman at Kathiramangalam.

In a statement, Vaiko said, “Jayaraman has been continuously protesting to save the farmlands. Both the Centre and state governments are keen to implement hydrocarbon projects and the state government, which was acting like a puppet in the hands of the Centre, had arrested him.”

While Jayaraman alone was protesting against the project, he wondered why his family members were also arrested.

“Despite the strong opposition from farmers, the Central government was trying to implement the project, which would convert Cauvery delta into a desert. The State government on its part thinks that by arresting Jayaraman, it can put an end to the protests. But, I warn the state government that the protests will intensify,” Vaiko said and demanded the immediate release of Jayaraman and his wife.