The absence of a woman, who had gone missing for cattle grazing in a sand quarry area, has created suspicion among residents of Kottur on the banks of the Cauvery near Gunaseelam in Musiri taluk.
The people of the village, acting on a suggestion by T.P. Poonatchi, Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, submitted a petition to Jayashree Muralidaran, Collector, to take action against anti-social elements and seek protection to women in the area.
A group of people from the village, including women, came to the Collectorate here to submit the petition during the weekly grievance day meeting.
They said that the woman, R. Tamizhselvi (37), who went to graze cows on November 4, did not return home.
M. Ravichandran, her husband, had immediately lodged a complaint with the Vathalai police and approached the Revenue Divisional Officer in Musiri, seeking action.
Referring to an unauthorised sand quarry in the village, he suspected that his wife had become a victim in the hands of anti-social elements. The possibility of murder could not be ruled out, the petition said.
The people of the village said that this was the second incident of a woman missing in the sand quarry area. About a year ago, another woman, Ranjitha, was reported missing.
They pointed out that most of the truck operators and workers hailed from other States.
Criminal incidents started with the missing of goats and cattle in the area. Now, it was the turn of women who went to graze the cattle, they said.
P. Muthu from the village said that the district administration should close the illegal quarry in the village.
The quarry, they said, hindered normal flow of water in the Cauvery.
“The Cauvery is being commercially exploited through the sand quarry. Coconut trees have withered away in the village,” P. Kumar, another villager, said, referring to the huge ‘wall’ of sand to the interior of the river from the village.
“It has diverted the flow of water,” he said.
A. Manimaran, an ex-serviceman, said the district administration should ensure protection to lives and property.
Collector’s assurance
The Collector assured the petitioners that the police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel would take up a joint operation on Tuesday. The villagers disbursed following the Collector’s assurance.
