Coimbatore : Social activists across the State have come together to raise their voice to find Mukilan, the environmentalist who has been missing since February 15 after addressing a press conference alleging police involvement in the Thoothukudi shooting.
Coimbatore : Social activists across the State have come together to raise their voice to find Mukilan, the environmentalist who has been missing since February 15 after addressing a press conference alleging police involvement in the Thoothukudi shooting.
Mukilan had released a video on February 15 in Chennai, implicating South Zone IG, Shailesh Kumar Yadav and Thoothukudi DIG, Kapil Kumar Saratkar in the shooting of people at the Thoothukudi Collector's office last year, during which 13 people were shot dead by police men in plain clothes.
In the 46-minute video titled 'Arsonists - Sterlite - The Hidden Truths,' the environmental activist was seen in a video footage accusing both the IPS officers of orchestrating the attack on May 22, 2018.
On February 15th night, Mukilan had gone to Egmore Railway station to board a train to Madurai and was seen coming out of Egmore station at 10 pm. This was recorded in a CCTV footage after which he seems to have vanished. His mobile phone remains switched off, since that day. Activists and well-wishers fear for his life and are demanding the police to take immediate action.
A 'Habeas Corpus' petition has been filed by Henry Tiphagne of People's Watch movement.
Mukilan is the Co-ordinator of the Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Movement and has been very vocal on environmental issues in the State. He has been associated with various struggles, including illegal sand quarrying, Koodankulam and Jallikattu. More than 15 cases including sedition have been slapped on him.
Arappor Iyakkam, along with a few other social activist groups have submitted a petition to the Chennai Commissioner urging the Police Department to find Mukilan.
Speaking on this, Jayaram Venkatesan, Convenor- Arappor Iyakkam said, "Now, that the police have confirmed that he is not in their custody, we are worried of his safety. Hence, we have urged the police department to expedite the process of tracing Mukilan. Though the Railway Police have filed an FIR, outside of railway station the control lies with Egmore police station. The police can retrieve all the CCTV footages and probe the issue in a comprehensive way".
"It's been a week since Mukilan went missing and we are yet to receive any hint of information on him. He has fought alongside us, against a lot of issues including Koodankulam, sand mafia and exploitation of the Cauvery river bed. So, at this point of time, we just need the police to take swift action and trace him", Jayaram requested.
Concerned about the 'missing' environmental activist, Thirumurugan Gandhi of May 17 movement stated, "It is Mukilan now! This Government has been employing such tactics against activists those who fight for social causes and posing life threats. Even in the Koodankulam struggle, Mukilan was arrested in a moving train by the police who intercepted his mobile signal. Now, with all the technology available, we are still unable to trace his whereabouts".
"It is more concerning as he had gone missing right after he exposed two high-rank police involvement in the Thoothukudi shooting. Though, we suspect police involvement we are unsure if what really happened.
Anyways, the Government and the Police have to answer the 'Habeas Corpus' petition filed by Peoples Watch and bring Mukilan in front of the Court. We, along with other social organisations, are fighting for his safe return".
The Habeas Corpus petition filed by Henry Tiphagne came for hearing today, and after listening to both sides, Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice Nirmal Kumar issued an order to the police. The Court suo motto impleaded the Police Department to investigate and report on March 4.
The case has been adjourned to the same date. Meanwhile "Where is Mukilan?" is the question raised by social activists and many people in the social media, after which the cry has reverberated across the State.