Student-activist Valarmathi held for ‘instigation’

A day after arresting Salem-based environmental activist Piyush Manush for allegedly instigating people to oppose the Salem-Chennai green corridor project, the police took student-activist M. Valarmathi into custody on similar charges here on Tuesday.

Police sources said that when Revenue Department officials visited Achankuttapatti village to carry out a survey of lands and other properties to be acquired for the eight-lane project, Ms. Valarmathi unexpectedly arrived at the spot and began addressing the residents who were waiting to meet the officials, telling them that the proposed green corridor won’t be of any use to the common man. She reportedly told them that the execution of the project would only pave the way for the destruction of the natural wealth of the western belt, and would deal a severe blow to the livelihood of farmers.

‘Intimidation tactics’

She accused the government of using the police to intimidate the farmers and residents who were opposing the project.

Subsequently, the Veerapandi police arrived at the scene and questioned her presence in the village. They directed her to leave.

As she refused to oblige and began raising slogans against the project, the police arrested her and removed her from the spot.

Later, a senior police officer warned residents not to entertain “outsiders”.

Ms. Valarmathi was, a few months ago, detained by the Salem city police under the Goondas Act for allegedly distributing pamphlets containing slogans “harming national interests”. The Madras High Court had quashed her detention. She is the second activist to be arrested for opposing the green corridor project. Piyush Manush, who spearheaded the Saleme Kural Kodu (Salem, lend your voice) movement, was arrested by the Theevattipatti police on Monday.