No bail to 9 protesters of Kathiramangalam

In a related development during the day, residents of Kathiramangalam boycotted the public hearing meeting called by the district administration at Tiruvidaimarudur taluk office. Even though A Annadurai, District collector, J Mahesh, Superintendent of police and representatives of the ONGC were present at the talks venue at the scheduled time of 4.30 pm, only 10 residents turned up that too at 5.15 pm. The Collector promised them to meet their demands and assured to provide a compensation of Rs 60,000 to Sriram, whose paddy field was damaged due to a leak in the oil pipe.

It may be recalled that a massive protest by locals and members of NGOs was held at Kathiramangalam after residents noticed a leak in the ONGC pipeline that carried crude oil. In a follow-up action, nine persons, including Professor Jayaraman, coordinator of anti-Methane project, were arrested. 

The following day also residents continued with their protest and demanded the release of the nine arrested. A bail plea was also moved before the court on July 1. 

On Tuesday, when the petition came up for hearing before the Principal Sessions Court Judge Nakeeran, the public prosecutor Kuppusamy defended that the Kathiramangalam village had not returned to normalcy.

Meanwhile, advocate Nalladurai, the counsel for the petitioners, argued that normalcy had returned to the village and the CM had also mentioned this on the floor of the House. The judge, however, refused bail stating that the police, who were assaulted by the protesters, were still undergoing treatment. 

Meanwhile, students of Kumbakonam Government (autonomous) college boycotted classes on Tuesday demanding ONGC to stop all operations in Kathiramangalam. Similarly, advocates practicing in the integrated courts complex in Kumbakonam also resorted to a boycott protest pressing the same demand. M Rajasekar, president of Kumbakonam bar association, said advocates would boycott the courts for a week.