Nineteen persons belonging to the Adi Dravidar Colony in Avalur police station limits in Arakkonam sub-division who were arrested in connection with an alleged clash between two groups of people over the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on June 3 were released on bail by the Principal District and Sessions Judge (PDJ), Vellore, R.V.R. Deenadayalan on Monday.
The arrested persons were discharged from the Central Prison for Men, Vellore and the Special Prison for Women, Vellore on Tuesday.
According to police sources, the clash was a sequel to the allegation of one of the groups that the other group claimed wages for the work of desilting an irrigation tank under the MGNREGS without actually doing the work.Complaint
When members of one of the groups went to the Avalur police station and lodged a complaint against members of the other group, the latter also went in large numbers to the police station and lodged a counter-complaint. Based on the complaints the police arrested 19 persons under sections 147, 148, 294 (b), 323, 324, 506 (ii) of IPC, section 4 of Women Harassment Act and section 3 of Public Property Damage Act.
The counsel for the petitioners stated before the PDJ that the petitioners have not committed any offences as alleged by the police.
On the other hand, they have been protesting against rampant illegal sand mining which has devastated the Palar River bed, which in turn has reduced groundwater and affected agricultural operations in their area. The police submitted that except seven petitioners, all others were involved in other crimes also.
Disposing of the bail petition, the PDJ enlarged all the 19 on bail. Of them, 18 were directed to stay at Dharmapuri and appear and sign before the Judicial Magistrate No.1, Dharmapuri once in a day at 10.30 a.m. for a period of one month. They were also asked to execute a bond for a sum of Rs.5000 each, along with two sureties for the like sum to the satisfaction of the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate No.1, Walajapet.
