Green corridor: Madras High court gives breather to 63 protesters remanded in prison

TIRUVANNAMALAI: The district court here on Sunday released 63 persons, who had been remanded for burning a copy of the Government Order of the proposed Chennai-Salem Expressway project, on conditional bail for 10 days. The court ordered them to sign at the Tiruvannamalai (East) police station.
Later, members of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), and farmers welcomed the protestors outside the Vellore Central Prison.

Ravindran, State Vice President of AIKS, told Express, “We objected to police as they remanded us under sections of creating enmity between the government and public. However, our protests are righteous, because we are fighting for thousands of farmers as the project can jeopardize environment and natural resources.” The members of the farmers’ unions said they would continue to protest against the project until it was withdrawn.

On Friday morning, police remanded 64 persons, who burnt the copy of the GO at Radha lodge circle here. “The protesters were arrested under IPC sections 147 - punishment for rioting, 153 - wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, 341 - punishment for wrongful restraint, 188 - disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant and 505 (1)(b) - with intent to cause, or which likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public,” said a senior police officer.