Anti-Koodankulam protests spread across Chennai

12 September, 2012

Anti-Koodankulam protests have started spreading across Chennai after police used force to quell the otherwise non-violent protests against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant. Several people were injured after police lathi-charged and teargassed the protesters.

PEOPLE HAVE been staging protests against the Koodankulam nuclear plant since last year. But this time around, the situation has turned out to be full of violence, and the police had to use tear gas and lathi charge to drive away the protesters. Many people have been arrested for taking part in the clashes.

The protesters took upon the streets, which led to huge traffic jam. They even attacked city buses. The city was in a state of panic. The protesters were angry with the way the police dealt with the situation.

One of the protesters, Srinivisan in this NNIS video said, “Yesterday the police beat up people very badly and they (protesters) have been influenced by it.” He further added that some people suffered serious injuries and he especially talked about the village councilor who was seriously injured.

With such thrashing by the police, the situation is not going to improve. There are chances that the protests may change their shape and turn violent, which does not augur well. If the authorities do not handle the situation appropriately, such protests may multiply and may lead to chaos, which the authorities clearly want to avoid.