Whistleblower, father killed over lake encroachment in Karur dist

The double murder has sent shock waves in the central region as another activist working against sand smuggling was attacked by a sand mafia near Tiruchy approximately a week ago.

Sources said that a water body spread over 150 acre on a poramboke land at Muthalaipatti panchayat near Kulithalai was the lifeline of several hectares of farmlands was gradually encroached by over 20 persons from Ettarai and Koppu areas. V Nallathambi (45), a jasmine grower and an activist approached the Madurai bench of Madras High Court and filed a petition against the 20 encroachers.

The duo in their petition before the High Court bench said that the particular waterbody that was under encroachment was the main source for irrigation to several thousands of acres of farmlands and sought to direct the district administration to retrieve the land immediately. While the case was going on for over two years and Nallathambi did not relent in in his fight against the encroachers.

Meanwhile, acting on his petition, on July 24, the court conducted a survey of the land and issued an order to the district administration to remove the encroachers to retrieve the land. Following this, revenue officials surveyed the encroached land and submitted a report to the district administration. Meanwhile, the encroachers allegedly organised a secret meeting at Muthalaipatti on Sunday.

Hours later, early on Monday, Nallathambi, who was returning to his house at Muthalaipatti around 8 am after selling jasmine at Srirangam market, was reportedly intercepted and attacked by a six-member with lethal weapons. On Seeing this, Veeramalai, the victim’s father, who had come to see off his grand children to school attempted to rescue Nallathambi but he too was attacked by the gang. Both the man and his father died on the spot.

The slain Nallathambi is survived by wife Tamilarasi (39) son Ponnar (12) and daughter Iniya (10).