A social activist based in Vadipatti taluk in Madurai district was thrashed with an iron rod on Friday allegedly for his activism against illegal stone quarrying.
M. Gnanasekaran, 32, who was vocal against the operation of stone quarries in and around his area, recently exposed activities of a stone quarry at Katchakatti which operated beyond its licence period.
As he complained about the illegal operation with the district administration following a Right to Information Act report which informed him about the expiry of the licence to operate quarrying, it irked the quarry operators.
On Friday evening, when he was walking towards his house from a nearby area, he was followed by a man on a bike. As Mr. Gnanasekaran was unaware of the stalker, he went casually talking over his phone.
Within a few seconds he was hit on his neck and then repeated thrashings fell on his hands and stomach. Unable to retaliate, he went unconscious.
By the time the villagers went running to Mr. Gnanasekaran, the accused sped away on his bike. He was then rushed to the Vadipatti government hospital. He was shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital.
Following his complaint with the police through Kaval Uthavi mobile application, the police booked a case against V. Murugan who was employed in the stone quarry at Katchakatti. It was found that he used an iron rod to hit the complainant.
Vadipatti police booked Murugan under sections 296 (b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place); 118 (1) (voluntarily causes hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting, or any instrument which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death) and 351(3) (Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation by treating to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
As the accused has been arrested and further investigation is under way, Mr. Gnanasekaran sought police protection to safeguard his life and his family from further attacks by the stone quarry operators.
Published – December 21, 2024 09:38 pm IST