June 23, 2018
India

Six villagers detained

They say no to windmills; damage officials’ cars | Special Correspondent | The Hindu | June 23, 2018 | www.thehindu.com

Tension prevails in Vadakku Silukkanpatti near here after the police detained six persons, including five women, for allegedly damaging the vehicles of private windmill firm officials when they had gone to the hamlet on Friday evening for windmill installation survey.

Police said the people of Vadakku Silukkanpatti near here are protesting against windmills being installed in their area as the trucks carrying oversized spares for the wind turbine generators badly damage their fields and the water bodies feeding their farms. When the villagers preferred complaints with the police, cases have been registered and the issue was also raised in the farmers’ grievance redressal meets on various occasions.

Against this backdrop, a group of officials of a private windmill firm came to Vadakku Silukkanpatti on Friday in three cars to conduct survey for installing wind turbine generators. As the villagers stopped the private firm officials, it led to heated argument between both sides and the cars were damaged.

Accusing the villagers of assaulting them and damaging their cars, the private windmill firm officials filed a complaint with Thattappaarai police, who later detained six persons, all from Vadakku Silukkanpatti village.

When the villagers tried to thwart the police’s attempt to arrest the villagers, the police, led by Thoothukudi Rural DSP Muththamizh, used force to chase the villagers. This triggered tension in the hamlet.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/06/23/six-villagers-detained/