Four activists, including student Valarmathi, were remanded by Harur police here after they were removed from Sipling, reportedly to make way for the visit of Higher Education Minister K.P.Anbalagan on Tuesday.
Ramakrishnan, K.Vediyappan, a social activist, Valarmathi, student activist from Salem and Mahalakshmi of the Women's Liberation Front from Madurai were remanded under Section 143 IPC, 7(1) a of Criminal Law Amendment Act.
They were part of a team of 15 activists that was interacting with the bereaved family of the 16-year-old tribal girl, who had succumbed in hospital, a few days after allegedly being gang raped by two men.
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On Tuesday afternoon, the activists, including a small boy, were intercepted by Harur police and were asked to move out of Sipling because Mr. Anbalagan was visiting the family to hand them cash on behalf of the AIADMK, according to local sources.
But the activists refused to leave. They were picked up around 3.45 pm and detained at Harur police station till 8 pm. According to Harur DSP Chellapandian, the activists were “illegally inside Sipling and wrongly influencing people”. Asked about the nature of illegality committed, Mr.Chellapandian said: “We had orders from our superiors.”
Acting Superintendent of Police D.Mahesh Kumar said: “They are Maoists in the garb of human rights activists.. We are waiting for the RDO's inquiry report and based on that disciplinary action will be taken.” The SP said, “The people had asked for an outpost police station in Sipling village. I have proposed an O P station there,” said the SP.
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