A group of fisherfolk submitted a petition to the District Legal Services Authority, accusing two advocates of ‘Makkal Athikaram’ of inciting violence and motivating them “to be fierce” during the May 22 anti-Sterlite protest.
In the petition submitted to the DLSA Sub-Judge R. Samuel Benjamin on Friday, the fishermen said the public meeting organised here on March 24 demanding the permanent closure of Sterlite Copper went off peacefully though a good number of fishermen participated in it.
When the anti-Sterlite protesters took out a procession on April 23 to submit a petition in Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board office with a similar plea, advocates Vanchinathan and Hari Raghavan of Makkal Athikaram “intruded” and started “to brainwash” the youth of Fatima Nagar, Puthu Theru, Cruzpuram, Terespuram and areas around Our Lady of Snows Basilica.
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While the fishermen decided to participate in the anti-Sterlite demonstration organised at SAV School Grounds near Old Bus Stand on May 22 following talks held with police officials on May 20, the advocates started a “negative campaign” on social media and “incited” the fishermen to participate in the march towards the Collectorate.