Case against Tamil Nadu PWD men discussed

The talks, convened by Pollachi Sub-collector Gayathri Krishnan, confined to withdrawal of case filed by Parambikulam police against 40 persons for their alleged involvement in a road roko on September 13, 2016, which resulted in a cane charge. The incident was related to a case when a group of PWD officials from the state were prevented by Kerala Forest Department officials from entering the PAP dam site on September 10 last year. 

As a retaliation, PWD had cancelled a bus transporting school children of Tamil families staying at PAP dam site in Kerala, to take and bring back them from the site to school near Anamalai, leading to a picketing by Tamils on September 13 and blocking Government and tourist vehicles.

This prompted Kerala police to resort to cane charge to disperse them and some were injured in the melee and Parambikkulam police had registered a case under various sections of the IPC including 353, (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (i) (criminal intimidation).

Police had asked a PWD official N Thyagaraj and bus driver Ponnusamy to appear before them. Similarly, 40 persons were also asked to appear before a Magistrate court in Chittur, when the trial began in the case. The officials held talks on Tuesday seeking cooperation in maintaining peace and cordial relationship. 

The minutes during the meeting will be sent to both the Tamil Nadu and Kerala government for taking necessary action, they said.