The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu is currently taking steps to invoke the Goondas Act against seven farmers who participated in a sit-in protest against the acquisition of their land for SIPCOT.
This information was presented by the government during the bail plea hearing at the Tiruvannamalai district court on Wednesday, 15 November 2023. The hearing, where counsel for the farmers sought bail for 20 individuals, was adjourned to 20 November 2023. The public prosecutor cited the ongoing initiation of Goondas Act proceedings by the Tamil Nadu government against the key farmers central to the SIPCOT land acquisition protest as the reason for the delay in the bail process.
The detained farmers are facing charges under various sections of the IPC, including 147, 341, 143, 294(b), 353, and 506(1), as well as the Public Property Act. These farmers had peacefully staged a sit-in protest on their patta land for over 125 days, opposing the state government’s plan to acquire 3,200 acres of agricultural wetland for leasing to private industries. Their arrest on November 4 was based on an FIR filed in August.
In the copy of the warrant obtained by Arappor Iyakkam, it says, that a farmer named Pachayappan, has been detained as a “thug” and classifies him as a drug smuggler, cybercriminal, drug peddler, forest offender, gangster, sex offender, squatter and video thief. It also mentions that under the Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (Tamil Nadu Act No. 14/1982), he has been remanded in Madurai Central Jail from 15.11.2023 to prevent him from acting in a monopoly for the maintenance of public order and public peace.
Arappor Iyakkam posted on their X handle, “The DMK government has arrested a farmer named Pachayappan, who peacefully protested against the acquisition of his land by the government in Tiruvannamalai, under the Goondas Act that under which sex offenders, extortion offenders, and prostitution offenders are arrested. The protester in Tiruvannamalai was taken to Madurai jail so that his family would not be able to meet him easily.
Why is Chief Minister Stalin so angry with the farmers? Has the thought of being the dictator of Tamil Nadu crossed your mind?
Are the farmers who protest peacefully against the government thugs? Is this the social justice your party is talking about? Answer Mr. Stalin.”
திருவண்ணாமலையில் தன்னுடைய நிலத்தை அரசாங்கம் கையகப்படுத்த கூடாது என்று அமைதியான வழியில் போராடிய பச்சயப்பன் என்ற விவசாயியை பாலியல் குற்றவாளி, கள்ளச்சாராய குற்றவாளி, விபச்சார தொழில் குற்றவாளி போன்றவர்களை கைது செய்யும் குண்டர் சட்டத்தில் திமுக அரசு கைது செய்துள்ளது. திருவண்ணாமலையில்… pic.twitter.com/TUGhK3SOvr
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) November 16, 2023
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Chief K Annamalai took to social media platform X to voice his protest over the developments. He wrote,
“While we think the DMK Govt can’t stoop any lower than its current state, they have proved us wrong by detaining farmers under the Goondas Act.
Farmers in Tiruvannamalai district in TN have been protesting peacefully for the last 125 days against the government’s decision to acquire 3200 acres of agricultural land for the proposed sipcot.
We condemn this cowardly act of the DMK Govt & BJP Tamil Nadu assures full legal support for the families of the detainees to ensure that the protesting farmers are protected from this Fascist DMK Regime.”
While we think the DMK Govt can't stoop any lower than its current state, they have proved us wrong by detaining farmers under the Goondas Act.
Farmers in Tiruvannamalai district in TN have been protesting peacefully for the last 125 days against the government’s decision to… pic.twitter.com/MktYKVO5uF
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 16, 2023
(with inputs from The New Indian Express)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.