Anti-Kundamkulam movement leader SP Udayakumar was detained on Tuesday in Nagercoil just as he was heading to join a memorial event for the 13 men and women shot during the Thoothukudi protests last year. While activists close to Udayakumar say that it was to prevent him from joining the event, the police refused to give a reason for the detention.
To mark the first anniversary of the shooting of civilians during the Anti-Sterlite protest on May 22 2018, various organisations held rallies in the port city. Over 2000 police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Amongst those who were called to attend the anniversary meeting was Udayakumar. He was to leave his residence at Nagercoil around 6am but the police allegedly picked him up before he could start his journey to Thoothukudi.
"He was supposed to come join us here for the 10.30 am meeting but never made it," says G Sundarrajan for Poovulagin Nanbargal. "They police picked him up from outside his residence in the name of preventive arrest," he adds.
When TNM contacted Kanyakumari SP N Shreenath, he however refused to explain the detention.
"We have just called him in for routine inquiry. He will be let off in a while," he claimed.
Activists however dismiss this claim.
"If it was routine inquiry they should have given him notice. There was a systematic effort to stop several activists from going to the event," alleges Henry Tiphagne, a human rights lawyer and executive director of People's Watch.
The CBI which is handling the case concerned with the shooting is yet to present its reports on the matter. They have questioned the families of the victims but activists allege that the investigations are moving at a snail's pace.
Meanwhile in Thoothukudi, locals lit candles and placed them before the portraits of those who lost their lives in the police firing. Events were held across the districts peacefully to mourn the victims.
The demonstrators had wanted the expansion of the copper plant to called off as it was polluting the environment int e district. Following the protests, the state government passed an order to permanently shut down the unit. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) later passed an order setting aside the government's directive. But the Supreme court in turn set aside the NGT order this year. As of now, the plant remains closed.