Court extends custody of Kathiramangalam protesters

The protesters were brought to the court on Friday after 15 days custody amid tight security. On information about their arrival, Thiruvidaimarudhur MLA Kovi Chezhian, DMK functionaries and the relatives of the arrested protesters gathered in the court premises. When they were brought out, after extension of judicial custody, relatives surrounded them and women broke down. Meanwhile, Professor T Jayaraman (Coordinator of Anti-Methane Project Movement) said, the ground water in Kathiramangalam has been contaminated due to the works carried out by the ONGC. 

“Our protest will continue till the ONGC leaves Kathiramangalam”, said Jayaraman. He also urged the government to declare the Cauvery delta as agriculturally protected zone. A group of 10 protesters led by Professor Jayaraman were arrested by the police on June 30 and produced before the Kumbakonam court on July 1 which ordered judicial custody for all the 10 persons. They were  then lodged in the Central prison Tiruchy.

People of Kathiramangalam village continued their ‘sit-in agitation’ for the fourth day on Friday, police said. A Marx, chairperson of the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations, visited Kathiramangalam and met the people.  

“The confederation will prepare a report on what has happened in the village and submit it to the state and central governments. If necessary we will also go to court,” he said. Police had stepped up security in the village as a group of students had announced that they would take part in the agitation.