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Journalists Attacked, Equipment Worth ₹25 Lakh Destroyed While Investigating Alleged Illegal Quarry Linked To DMK MLA In Karur; Questions Raised Over Police Inaction

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The Commune
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Journalists Attacked, Equipment Worth ₹25 Lakh Destroyed While Investigating Alleged Illegal Quarry Linked To DMK MLA In Karur; Questions Raised Over Police Inaction

A fresh controversy has erupted in Karur district following the attack on journalists investigating alleged illegal quarrying operations, with new details raising serious questions about intimidation, destruction of evidence, and the lack of police action.

On Friday, 30 January 2026, five persons, including two journalists from News Tamil 24×7, were assaulted while filming an allegedly illegal stone quarry at Sivayam village near Krishnarayapuram. The quarry is alleged to be linked to DMK Srirangam MLA M Palaniyandi.

The injured include reporter Kathiravan, videographer Sebastian, social activist Sudalai Kannu, advocate Thirumalai Rajan, and his assistant Rajamanickam. According to police, the group travelled to the quarry, about 8 km from the Kulithalai–Manapparai highway and used a drone to document quarry operations for nearly two hours.

The situation escalated after quarry workers allegedly noticed the drone. Around 50 men, said to be quarry staff, reportedly attacked the group with iron rods and wooden logs, severely assaulting them, destroying two cameras, a drone, microphones, live kits and mobile phones, and briefly holding them against their will. The damaged and stolen equipment is estimated to be worth around ₹25 lakh.

For more than two hours, colleagues were unable to contact the victims, prompting an alert to the Karur Superintendent of Police Jose Thangaiah. Acting on his instructions, a police team led by Kulithalai DSP Senthilkumar secured Kathiravan and Sebastian and brought them to the Kulithalai police station. Advocate Thirumalai Rajan and Rajamanickam, who sustained serious injuries, were admitted to the Government Hospital in Kulithalai, while the journalists are undergoing treatment at the Tiruchirappalli Government Hospital.

However, News Tamil reported that despite a written complaint being submitted on the very day of the attack, detailing the time of arrival, purpose of reporting, identities of those involved, the assault, and the theft of equipment, no arrests or concrete action have been taken so far. This alleged inaction has triggered sharp criticism.

Further intensifying the controversy, multiple audio recordings have surfaced on social media and television broadcasts. These audios, aired by News Tamil, are claimed to contain conversations allegedly involving the MLA’s son and others connected to the quarry, discussing the incident and the destruction of evidence. While the authenticity of the recordings has not been officially confirmed, the channel claims the clips shed light on what transpired at the quarry site.

Journalists involved in the reporting alleged that the MLA himself was present at the scene and took part in the assault. According to their account, after the MLA allegedly struck first, others accompanying him followed suit, launching a “blind attack” on the journalists. They further alleged that had the MLA chosen to intervene, the violence could have been prevented.

The incident has also revived scrutiny of Palaniyandi’s past. In 2023, the Karur district administration reportedly imposed a fine of ₹23 crore on quarry operations linked to violations, raising questions about continued mining activities and political patronage.

Political leaders, activists, and journalists’ associations have condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on press freedom and a dangerous signal for journalists investigating environmental crimes such as illegal stone and sand quarrying. Several speakers on News Tamil argued that journalists documenting alleged illegalities should have been met with legal remedies, not violence, and questioned why no case has been registered against the MLA or those involved.

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