Two men arrested in Coimbatore for protesting against proposal to expand airport

The Peelamedu police arrested two persons on Tuesday for protesting against the Coimbatore airport runway expansion project.

Jayaprakash and Senthilraj have been taken into custody by the police for circulating a notice that could allegedly instigate people to fight the proposal to expand the Coimbatore airport.

The notice, allegedly the brainchild of the two, urged people from the 650 affected families to fight for a higher compensation similar to the people in Salem.

"Usually the common man fights against rising prices, lack of basic facilities, etc. But these days, people are fighting against developmental projects because they are not done with adequate and proper research with regard to the welfare of the affected people, environmental damage, or foresight about the social status of the people. These projects are done on an emergency footing, and only for hidden personal benefits of the officers involved,” said the notice.

The notice also accused the people in power of colluding with one another and behaving in a manner that lacks national pride and is also illegal.

The notice further puts forth a few questions to the district administration like:

1. Why isn't the district administration following the recent court order on land acquisition for developmental projects?

2. Why aren't the complete details regarding the project provided to people?

3. Why isn't the plan drawing of the proposed expansion made public?

4. Why isn't the final decided compensation not announced for the people who stand to lose lands and homes to the project?

5. What special benefits do the people belonging to the  SC and ST communities who lose land get?

6. What is the timeline for the project completion?

The notice further accuses the district administration of fooling poor landowners into signing the documents.

Speaking to TNM, a police officer at the Peelamedu police station said, "Cases have been filed under Sections 153 a (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 505(2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC. They accused have been taken to the magistrate now and based on the magistrate's instruction, they will be remanded."