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Protest against ONGC ops intensifies, Kathirmangalam residents vacate village
Residents of Kathiramangalam in Kumbakonam have vacated their village and have been staying in a coconut grove from Monday condemning the ONGC for initiating pipe laying works and the commencing of drilling for oil well amidst tight police security.
Tanjore
When the ONGC organized the reworking of oil well in the Kathiramangalam village on June 2, residents from Kathiramangalam and adjacent villages staged a protest. As many as 350 residents were arrested when they converged at a temple. Later they were released and 10 persons including Professor T Jayaraman, the Anti-Methane project movement coordinator were arrested under non-bailable section. Residents hoisted black flags atop their houses on Sunday but they were forcibly removed by the police.
Police personnel were deployed, on Monday, to beef up security and they restricted the movement of residents. Condemning police action, shops downed shutters and bus service to the  village was stopped. Â
Check posts were set up at Tirumangalakkudi, Narasingampettia, Baskararajapuram, Tiruvalangadu, Sivarampuram, Villiyanallur and Aralur. Â Residents of Kathiramangalam, who assembled at a coconut grove, cooked food and had their meals there. Assistant Collector, (Kumbakonam) Pradeepkumar, held talks with the residents at the coconut grove and held talks with them.Â
However, the residents reiterated their demand of withdrawing of police force and stopping of operations by the ONGC.Â
End wildlife menace, ryots urge collectorÂ
Farmers of Thinnanur village in Musiri, Tiruchy approached the district collector here on Monday to instruct the forest department to curb movement of wild animals and birds, that destroy their crops, in their areas. They rued that their crops are being destroyed by monkeys, peacocks and wild boar. Â They said they have petitioned the forest department often, but they claim that they lack funds to trap the animals.Â
Relay hunger strike ends  with appeal by GK VasanÂ
TMC president GK Vasan who participated in the fifth day of the relay hunger strike by the Coordination committee of all farmers associations here on Monday urged that the state government should get a nominal share of water from Karnataka. He wanted the Chief Minister to fulfill the assurances he made to the farmers. He blamed the BJP Government for not withdrawing the hydrocarbon project in Neduvasal.Â
He came down heavily on the State Government for impugning the protest by residents of Kathiramangalam village who were protesting against the ONGC operations. Mannargudi S Ranganathan, Â General secretary Cauvery delta farmers welfare association said the Karnataka Government has been pumping water with giant motors and filled 45 large lakes in the Chennapattina area. Later, the coordinator PR Pandian, said, farmers have decided to hoist black flags atop houses on August 15.Â
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