Coimbatore: In a shocking incident on the day of Gandhi Jayanti, a gang of supporters of Thadagam brick kilns and local ADMK functionary has assaulted three members of Makkal Needhi Maiam and a social activist who took part in the Grama Sabha meeting held at two different locations in Thadagam on Wednesday.
Coimbatore: In a shocking incident on the day of Gandhi Jayanti, a gang of supporters of Thadagam brick kilns and local ADMK functionary has assaulted three members of Makkal Needhi Maiam and a social activist who took part in the Grama Sabha meeting held at two different locations in Thadagam on Wednesday.
According to reports, Joshua a social activist who has filed several allegations against operation of illegal brick kilns and sand mining in the Thadagam area attended the Grama Sabha meeting at 24 Veerapandi Privu, this morning. While he came forward to file a petition against the unauthorised brick kiln owners and sand plundering in the area, a gang of over thirty people barged into him and assaulted him brutally.
In another incident at Chinna Thadagam, three members of Makkal Needhi Maiam Babu, Suresh and Prabhu who were witnessing the Grama Sabha meeting were also assaulted by a similar gang who brutally attacked them.
The gang abused them verbally suspecting them to be attending the meeting for registering a petition against the brick kilns.
All three of Makkal Needhi Maiam were later rushed to Coimbatore general hospital for treatment. All three have reported to have suffered injuries to their face and extremities. One person had his shoulder dislocated by the assault.
This sort of violent behaviour by the supporters of the brick kilns is not something new as anyone who has raised their voice against their indiscriminate and illegal mining have faced their wrath of violence and threats from time to time. Last week, they barged into the residence of several people who had filed petitions and raised their voice against this issue.
The public and social activists have opined that the lack of stringent action by the district administration and the police officials are the reason for the continued spate of violence and blatant violations in the Thadagam valley where there are many pits that are between 30-100 ft deep.
A complaint has been lodged with the Thadagam Police Station by both the social activist and Makkal Needhi Maiam.
The public at large are not helped by this lack of stringent action and it's their hope that the Administration look into this seriously as the case against them is already in the High Court.