The inquiry commission headed by retired Madras High Court judge Justice S. Rajeswaran on Thursday conducted preliminary inquiry into the violence during pro-jallikattu protests in Coimbatore and Salem.
In Coimbatore, the commission visited pro-jallikattu protest venues in the forenoon and collected information from the police on the violence reported here during the protests. The panel also visited Salem in the evening.
DCP (law and order) – Coimbatore City S. Lakshmi handed over the report prepared by the police on the violence to justice Rajeswaran. The commission visited main protest venues such as VOC Grounds, Gandhipuram and CODISSIA Grounds. District Collector T.N. Hariharan also accompanied the Commission.
Speaking to journalists, justice Rajeswaran said that the commission would collect statements of those allegedly affected by the violence and also members of the public before submitting the final report before the Government.
Justice Rajeswaran said that he has already visited protest venues in Chennai among other places. He said that the commission will start to collect statement from public, journalists and alleged victims of violence within 15 days. The details of the visit will be informed to the public in advance through media.
Ms. Lakshmi submitted before the commission that during the first two days of violence in Coimbatore, there were road blockades at some places. However, the following two days were peaceful. However, members of various organisations became part of the protest in the last two days and diverted the direction of the protest. She also submitted to the commission that a section of protesters engaged in road rokos on Avinashi Road, Gandhipuram and Cross Cut Road resulting in traffic snarls. Four cops were also injured in stone pelting.
Loss to Railways
In Salem, the commission inquired whether properties belonging to the public and the railways were damaged during the protests.
Justice Rajeswaran, accompanied by V. Sampath, District Collector, Sanjay Kumar, City Police Commissioner, Georgy George and R. Ramakrishnan, Deputy Commissioners of Police, visited the site in front of the collectorate where the students staged demonstration round the clock for about a week, and the railway track beneath the Periyar bridge, where the protesting students detained the Bengaluru–Karaikal passenger train for about four days.
The Salem Railway Division, through the District Collector, informed Justice Rajeswaran that it suffered a loss to the tune of ₹85.34 lakh due to the vandalism.
Justice Rajeswaran, in an informal chat, told presspersons that after the completion of the field inspection in different cities, he will hold inquiry in Salem district soon after giving due publicity. The students and the general public who would like to pass on information on the violence and other activities can do so in person, he added.
