Salem, Dharmapuri villagers hoist black flags against green corridor project

Officials of the Revenue department and NHAI were met with stiff resistance by farmers when they surveyed the land to be acquired for the road project connecting Salem and Chennai. 

Even as the survey works were completed in Salem district, farmers continued to express their anguish by hoisting the black flags. The black flags fluttered on houses, farmlands and institutions in numerous villages in the Kuppanur neighbourhood. The villagers claimed that more than 30 houses were earmarked for demolition for the proposed corridor in Ramalingapuram village. 

Following this, a police team led by Karipatty police inspector Shanmugasundaram, Vazhapadi Inspector Umashanker and others made a door-to-door visit in Ramalingapuram and urged villagers to remove the flags. 

Meanwhile, the officials continued their survey work for the second consecutive day in villages that fall under the Pappireddipatti Taluk in Dharmapuri district under heavy police protection.  Besides houses, the black flags were also hoisted at a dargah in Kombur village. 

Actor Mansoor Ali Khan, who was lodged in the Salem Central Prison for making inflammatory comments while participating in a protest meet recently against the green corridor project, suffered an urinary infection. 

After prison doctors suggested that he be taken to the Salem GH for treatment, the actor was sent there. “The Chief Minister should explain in what way the public will benefit out of the green corridor project. I will continue my fight against the project in a peaceful manner,” he told the media in the hospital. 

Further, the actor also said he doesn’t face any harassment in the prison. In another development, the Vadapalani police in Chennai arrested student activist Valarmathi in a different case. 

Valarmathi, who is lodged at the Salem Central Prison for participating in a protest against the eight-lane green corridor project, was served with the arrest order on Tuesday. 

According to police, Valarmathi, who participated in a film audio launch in Chennai a few months ago, had aired provocative comments against the police force. Valarmathi is likely to be taken to Chennai in connection with the case.