A 35-year-old man, a Dalit, created a flutter by climbing up a cell phone tower at Theppakulam here on Wednesday, protesting against the local police for “not taking action” against those who assaulted his mother.
Around noon, D. Sarath from Kottakudi climbed up the 297-foot-tall cell phone tower maintained by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). After climbing 200 feet, he threatened to commit suicide by jumping on the ground, alleging that Sivaganga Town police harassed him and failed to take action against those who assaulted his mother.
Soon the police and fire and rescue services personnel arrived at the scene with an ambulance and appealed to him to come down.
Sarath condemned the visits by the police to his house on Tuesday and Wednesday in search of him based on a complaint filed by one Kannadasan of the same area after he allegedly assaulted the complainant.
Even as the police were holding talks with him, Sarath said that he would climb down only if Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi district treasurer Muthuraja arrived at the scene and gave an assurance in this regard. Soon the police brought Mr. Muthuraja to the spot, and he appealed to Sarath to climb down, the police said.
After high drama for 30 minutes, Sarath climbed down, giving a sigh of relief to the police and the fire service personnel.
The police said that Sarath was facing a couple of criminal cases.
A large number of people gathered around the tower and spent anxious moments till Sarath climbed down.
After climbing 200 feet, he threatened to commit suicide by jumping on the ground
