The recent deaths due to illicit liquor in Marakkanam, Villupuram District police department to take preventive measures Under the guise of protecting the public, they have arrested palm tree climbers in Villupuram and other districts. They have filed a false case against the young palm tree climbers in Vikravandi, arrested them, cut the palm branches and broken their pots.
The recent deaths due to illicit liquor many people have been arrested in the Marakkanam area of Villupuram district.
But under the pretext of preventive measures, the police department has been committing many violations against palm tree climbers in Villupuram and other districts.
They have filed a false case against the young palm tree climbers in Vikravandi, arrested them, cut the palm branches and broken their pots. Kanchanur Police Inspector Shekhar has spoken derogatory words to the women who went to seek justice.
In response, the Tamil Nadu Palm Climbers Protection Movement and local people went on an indefinite hunger strike. They demand freeing the youth from false cases, taking action against the police officers who fabricated false cases against the palm tree climbers and Kanchanur Police Inspector Shekhar for insulting the women and removing the ban on toddy by the government of Tamil Nadu.
On the seventh day of protest, On 2nd June, Police barged into an indefinite hunger strike hut of palm tree climbers in Villupuram and detained them.
Youth and activists from Chennai condemn the act of police and provide solidarity to the Palm tree climber’s demands. The police have detained the hunger strikers.
The Tamil Nadu government is taking numerous precautions to conserve palm palms. Palm trees are a significant component of Tamil literature and culture, various products such as padaneer, nungu, palm fruit etc. as people’s favourite summer delicacy. But if the palm trees are to be protected, the welfare of the palm climbers should be considered. It is necessary to lift the ban on Toddy, which palm tree climbers claim as a food product.