In a fresh twist to the ongoing agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) here, local fishermen have forcefully taken away People's MovementAgainst Nuclear Energy (PMANE) convener S P Udayakumar, who is spear heading the protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).
The development comes at a time when Udayakumar was planning to surrender before police late on Tuesday evening.
When Udayakumar was addressing the protesters at Idinthakarai, a group of fishermen came onto the stage and forcefully put him on a boat and took him away. There is no clarity as to where he has been taken.
Earlier, it was expected that Udayakumar’s decision to surrender before the police might further escalate the tension in the region.
The protesters clashed with the police yesterday, leaving one protester dead and several others injured. Udayakumar was among the protesters who had escaped and police were on the lookout for him.
Meanwhile, a new petition was filed at the Supreme Court to get Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL) to stop filling uranium in the reactor at KNPP.
Talking to reporters over telephone from an undisclosed location, Udayakumar had blamed the police for yesterday's violence. He had said the agitation might not be enough to stop the government but “we will fight till death”.
Meanwhile, the stir is spreading to other parts of southern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu. Trains were blocked in neighbouring Tuticorin district last evening, and there were reports of violence in some villages. While the local fishing community began a 48-hour fast here, fishermen from Rameswaram, one of the largest fishing hubs in the country, decided not to go to sea in support to the protesters. The situation continued to be tense and the district administration has declared a ban on assembly of people till October 9 around the project site.
Access to the villages around the plant were blocked.
Muthulakshmi, a villager, says her husband is missing since last evening, when she spotted him jumping into the sea to escape the police lathicharge. Around 50 people from four villages have gone missing.
Locals say the police conducted a door-to-door search for Udayakumar. “Whatever it costs, we will not let this plant (KNPP) commence production,” he told journalists over telephone. He asked supporters to continue with the protest in a non-violent manner.
Additional director-general of police (law and order) S George said the protesters were using women and children as shields.
"They (women and children) are citizens of this village and they are also protesting for their future," said Udayakumar.
The Central government reiterated that the project would go ahead. V Narayanasamy, minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, told reporters at Chennai airport,
“Power production will commence as scheduled.” He also called for stern action against people getting into violence.
