Man who opposed stone quarries in Theni murdered; 10 persons booked

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A 43-year-old man, who had opposed the functioning of stone quarries in Bharathiar Nagar of Cumbum in Theni, was on Monday night murdered by a gang, during an attempt at mediation.

Early on Tuesday, on a complaint from the victim’s brother Jagadeesh Kumar, the Rayapanpatti police booked a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 103(1).

They named Chinnasamy, Guru Illango, Rajendran, Chelladurai, Gowri, Thirumalainambi, Alli Bala, Amaithi, Rajamani, and Manimaran as accused in the FIR.

The victim, Sasi alias Sasikumar, a two-wheeler mechanic, was a member of the Tamizh Desiya Forward Bloc (TDFB).

He had vehemently opposed the ongoing stone quarry operations in Sangilikaradu of Kamayakoundanpatti village.

According to his friends, he would organise agitations and signature campaigns, and speak about the consequences of unchecked quarrying.

“He would take us to meet officers and submit petitions in the Geology and Mines, T.N. Pollution Control Board, Revenue and the Police Departments seeking action,” one of his friends said.

When some quarry operators smuggled stones to Kerala, he had mobilised people and blocked the quarry lorries, another friend Balamuguran said.

Recently, some of the accused had repeatedly threatened Sasi against challenging their activities.

The complainant said that one of the accused had even told Sasikumar that they had invested a few crores of rupees, and had to get the investment back, according to the police.

Under such circumstances, Sasikumar was called for a “mediation talk” by some of the quarry operators at a community hall in Kamayakoundanpatti.

He had told about the meeting to his friends in Bharathiar Nagar before leaving home at around 5 p.m. on Monday.

While the talks were in progress, an accused, identified as Chinnasamy, allegedly pulled out a knife, and stabbed Sasikumar on his neck. Sasikumar fell unconscious.

He was rushed to the Cumbum Government Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

As the news spread, family members and TDFB cadres blocked the Dindigul-Kumuli highway, demanding that the accused be arrested.

Recently auctioned

A senior officer investigating the case said the stone quarries were recently auctioned by the Revenue Department, and a few self-help-groups were engaged in the activity.

Further investigation is on.