Withdraw cases in Pullambadi gate protest: Farmers

It may be recalled that some miscreants assaulted N Sebastian Mary Stella, the woman gate keeper at Pullambadi, for refusing to open the gate before the passage of a train. Following this, the Tiruchy divisional railway ordered the closure of the gate permanently while the injured gate keeper was admitted to the Lalgudi GH.

Meanwhile, the Division Railway authorities conducted a detailed inquiry, besides lodging a complaint with the Lalgudi police.

However, the gate, which was the main entry point to many villages around Pullambadi, was reopened after a protest by the public and farmers. During the agitation some farmers reportedly damaged the gate.

During a follow-up investigation, officials identified 98 farmers who had reportedly led the protest and slapped a fine of Rs 3000 on each of them.

Following this, a group, led by farmers’ leader P Ayyakannu, staged a begging protest in a bid to convey that the fine levied by railways was a huge sum for them and urged the district collector to recommend to withdraw the cases against the farmers. Later, submitted a petition with the DRO Santhi.