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A 44-year old fisherman was killed when police opened fire at a group of people who clashed with them while blocking a road in Manapad coastal village as the protest spilled to neighbouring Tuticorin District, police said.
At Kudankulam in Tirunelveli District, the main scene of protests for the last two days, police resorted to lathicharge and burst teargas shells to disperse over 2,000 protesters who fought pitched battles throwing stones and logs.
As the baton-wielding policemen chased away the protesters, many of them moved towards the sea to escape.
Sporadic violence then followed as enraged groups of protesters set fire to a local Panchayat office, the Village Administrative Officer's office and a state-run liquor retail shop in Kudankulam, in an ugly turn to the over year-long peaceful protest, police said.
The police action followed after authorities failed to persuade the protesters who, for the second day, defied prohibitory orders and stayed put at the seashore, about 500 metres away from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
Tuticorin, about 80 km from here, also saw about 500 people block the Mysore-bound train by squatting on the track, as also the highway connecting Nagercoil.
Condeming the police action, People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, spearheading the protest against KNPP, announced a 48-hour relay fast against it.
In Chennai, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa reviewed the situation with DGP K Ramanujam.
The protesters gave the call for the siege as a last-ditch effort to stall the Indo-Russian project after regulatory authorites gave their nod for loading the uranium fuel in the first of the two reactors.
A bandh-like situation prevailed here and surrounding villages with shops and schools remaining shut. The villagers also dug up main roads leading to Idinthakarai in a bid to prevent police vehicles from entering it.
Around 4,000 security personnel, including Rapid Action Force, have been deployed in the area.
Condemning the police action, PMANE Convenor S P Udayakumar charged the state government with exposing its "fascist" face and vowed to continue the protest.
The first unit of KNPP was scheduled for commissioning in December last, but ran into rough weather with the locals demanding its scrapping on safety concerns.
The nation wants electric power and energy without affecting natural equiibrium as the electricity generated from rivers and water falls are insufficient. But the problems confronting people of Kudankulam is that there was some sort of fear in the mind of the people after earthquake in Japan.Both Central and state govt,has not done anything to remove the fear in the mind of the people.The major factor involved in the whole episode is that to much politics distroyed the movement and it became a sensitive issue.
These protesters are an example of what India stands for - 1 step forward 2 steps back. Ask every indian who is abroad and they never want to return to india because it is dirty, corrupt, no justice, faulty infrastructure etc. Foreigners did not do this Indian voters elect corrupt politicians. No foreigners are involved. stop blaming foreigners and blame ourselves and deal with this problem ourselves The same people that blame foreigners are determind to live in filth and corruption, coalscam, landscam, airportscam, 2G scam, politicians looting, corrupt police, filty trains and stinking stations, poor roads and driving conditions, spitting, urinating, garbage accummulation, polluting vehicles Is there a foreign hand in all this? Get real and get on with progress
India´s need of the hour is energy, development of infrastructure and eradication of maximum corruption in all levels from TOP to BOTTOM. Those who are protesting against the agenda they should be removed and even punished by the court of law independent of religion,caste and as such impediments.
Wake up Indians please do not support these protestors as they US backed protestors. As it was built by Russia, US is behind these trouble. Whole world is troubled by CIA, India was under sanctions like Iran for not buying US backed Nuclear Deal.
Well Mr Patriot. The first job of any elected government is to listen to local people. It is not playing one state against another. That defines democracy.
state of tamil nadu is relling under darkness for want of Power in the state.kunankulam project is not a child paly and our scioentist have worked on the design and safe operablity of the reactors. All the reactors are under IAEA safeguards on its design and after obtaining clearance only india government initiated the process for operation of this reactors. What do these people know about kudenkualm project Do they have any idea about the nuclear reactions and its controlled mechanism of the reactor. we want to produce more power for the country if any one comes as hurdles he will be treated as national enemy and be dealt accoringly Government at state and centre should use heavy hands in controlling the mass against the operablity of the reactors. no way to compromise at this junmcture subramanian
so, why are developed nations shying away from nuclear reactors ?
US is building reactors. So is Japan. So is South Korea. There is so much resistance while imitating developed nations in things like FDI, why in this case alone they become the role models?
Hi, Every patriot of india must know the truth . The nation is in turmoil these days%u2014and foreign funded NGO and desh drohi media /reporters triggered anarchy gets worse every day. Our foreign enemies are smirking, at the gullible indian, as we fight like monkeys . Punch into google search MAHATMA GANDHI, RE- WRITING INDIAN HISTORY- VADAKAYIL . Know the explosive and shocking truth . It is still not too late. Keep your religion , caste and political leanings aside for now . Be Indian at this hour. Every patriot must read . Capt ajit vadakayil ..
The forces don't want Bharat to progress , are encouraged by Churh and USA through CIA . It is nacked truth . Since we had collabaration through Russia to establish this nuclear plant , USA do not want us to generate Nuclear power to meet power need. If we get this technology by agreeing USA terms and conditions these Church supported anti - Nationals , would not raise any voice . This is a game plan of USA , UK and Vatican. As long as we had Italian - Foreign agent is at helm of affiars , and weak Prime Minister , they induge such foolish activities , through their henchmen
Both State and Central governments should deal with such people who are against the progress of the state and country. When the safe guards are sufficiently addressed, there is no point in agitation. There are forces which want to see India remain under-developed. These forces use religion and all other means to block our progress.
The antinuclear stir at Kudangulam is motivated and encouraged by some not so visible foreign hands and fund.One finds the active support being extended by the Church disgusting and intriguing.The Church should confine itself to the domain of their religion and not get involved in matters which affects the energy security of the country.The country and Tamil Nadu in particular can ill afford to neglect or lose the project and the additional power which Kudankulam will bring.It is time to act with firmness which the present developments warrants.
