Anti-Methane Project Movement Coordinator T. Jayaraman and nine others, who were arrested in connection with the anti-ONGC protest at Kadiramangalam on June 30, were released on bail from the Tiruchi central prison on Saturday.
They were arrested by the Pandanallur police on charges of attempt to murder, using criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duties, criminal intimidation and wrongful restraint, among others, after clashes erupted between the Kadiramangalam villagers and the police personnel who had been posted there at the time to protect the ONGC personnel engaged in maintenance work at an oil well in the village.
Speaking to reporters after being released from prison, Mr. Jayaraman said that they were forced to spend 43 days in prison for no crime. “The cases were foisted on us — we are accused of attempting to murder the tahsildar and brandishing weapons. All these are false charges made out by learned officials,” he said.
Asserting that the groundwater at Kadiramangalam has been “completely polluted and ruined”, Mr. Jayaraman rued that the Tamil Nadu government was “doing whatever the Centre wanted.”
“The State government should stand with its people and not with oil companies or the Centre,” he said.
Stating that the government should adopt a soft approach towards those fighting for social causes, he expressed his gratitude to all who had supported his struggle.
The Anti-Methane Project Movement would hold consultations with friendly organisations, social activists and like-minded forces before deciding on the next course of action on the issue, he said.
Hero’s welcome
Meanwhile, seven of the 10 protesters who were released on bail were accorded a roaring reception from fellow villagers at Kadiramangalam.
The celebrations were replete with the bursting of crackers, traditional aarti , a procession on a motor vehicle cavalcade and lots of sabre-rattling against the Central and State governments.
Later, the freed villagers, along with their counsel, were felicitated at the Ayyanar Koil yard, where some villagers have been staging a sit-in for over a month.
