Five days after Usha, who fell to death from a motorcycle after being allegedly kicked by a policeman, a group of over 200 residents from Tiruchy took out a bike rally without wearing helmets before staging a protest in front of the district collectorate here on Monday.
Thiruchirapalli:
They shouted slogans against the police and alleged that cops were attaching more importance to helmet rule violation cases than crime prevention activities.
The protestors, who were mostly farmers and youngsters, carried placards and raised slogans against the police. The rally commenced from Rettai Vaical on Vayalur Road and reached the Collectorate, where they staged a road roko. The rallyists also attempted to besiege the collectorate. They were later pacified by DRO A Basheer.
Farmers, who were led by MP Chinnadurai, district president of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said they were already burdened with crop failure, repayment of agriculture loans, hike in bus fare and petrol costs and the limitations in ration essentials. “Now adding to this, police have been collecting fine on all streets and near junctions. The cops wave sticks or logs in some rural parts in an attempt to stop the motorists, who violate road or helmet rule. These activities hurt us a lot”, he claimed.
Chinnadurai further alleged that at some places, the police collect more than Rs 200 as fine, but give challan for Rs 100.
A few youngsters said their daily schedule was often getting affected due to the vehicle checks by police. “The cops simply do not care about our pleas and order us to stop motorists. Their rough attitude has posed threat to safety of many motorists on some occasions. Usha’s case was a perfect example,” a youngster claimed.
“If we gather to protest the police action, they resort to lathicharge. One such lathicharge happened at Uyyankondan Thirumalai in February, in which nine youth were booked. If this continues, we will not be able to concentrate on our daily business”, another farmer said, urging the police to instead take steps to bring down the crime rate in the district.
Court Boycott
Meanwhile, the Tiruchy bar association staged a court boycott on Monday demanding justice for Usha and release the 23 persons arrested in connection with the protest case. K Panneer Selvan, president of the Tiruchy Bar Association, said, advocates will oppose the bail petition of Inspector Kamaraj, if he files one in the court