Kudankulam stir continues unabated; petition in SC to stop fuel loading

Villagers and activists continued their protest against the nuclear power plant in Kudankulam even as the authorities claimed the situation was under control.

Thousands of people are still sitting in and around Idinthakarai, the epicentre of the protest, while their leader SP Udaykumar may be arrested anytime today.

On Tuesday, police conducted a door-to-door search for Udaykumar. Reports say the activist was whisked away by villagers in a boat last night to evade arrest.

Anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal, who offered his support to the stir, has suggested Udaykumar to not surrender. "I have suggested him not to surrender and we should offer him the best legal support," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal also told reporters that police destroyed 40 boats of fishermen.

"The police are ransacking the houses of the people living here. 40 boats of poor fishermen have been destroyed by the policemen. This is not maintaining law and order. I request the police to be more humane," Kejriwal said.

The protesters are demanding authorities to stop the loading of uranium fuel into the reactors, which will take place on Thursday. A total of 51 people have been arrested so far.

Meanwhile, a new petition was filed at the Supreme Court to get Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL) to stop filling uranium in the reactor at KNPP.

The petition stated that the Government has brutally cracked down on the local community peacefully protesting against the plant and has slapped sedition cases against thousands of protesters.

"Thus it is absolutely clear that the government intends to push the project through without any consideration of the safety, costs, environmental impact and other concerns regarding the project," the petition said.

The petitioner urged the court to pass an "ex-parte ad-interim injunction against the respondents from further proceeding with Initial Fuel Loading and/or Commissioning the Unit 1& 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project till the recommendations of the task force regarding the said project are fully implemented."

Authorities meanwhile claim that the situation is now under control at the protest site.

"The situation is under control, cases have been registered against protestors attacking the police and damaging property. Around 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in Kudankulam and surrounding areas," Additional Director General of Police S George told IANS.

The district administration has declared a ban on assembly of people till October 9 around the project site.

All the shops in Kudankulam and adjoining villagers remained closed and bus services were suspended.

Around 4,000 security personnel, including Rapid Action Force, have been deployed in the area.