Over 150 farmers staged a demonstration in Udumalpet, Tiruppur district, demanding the arrest of individuals who falsely accused them of being a 'mafia gang' and 'mineral looters' while extracting silt from a local tank.
Coimbatore: Over 150 farmers staged a protest demonstration in Udumalpet, Tiruppur district, demanding the arrest of individuals who falsely accused them of being a 'mafia gang' and 'mineral looters'. The incident stemmed from a recent silt extraction activity at Sappattiyar tank in Valavadi panchayat area near Udumalpet.
A few days ago, farmers were legally extracting silt from the Sappattiyar tank with proper permissions. However, some individuals from the same area reported to the police and revenue department that the silt was being removed without proper authorization. This led to the temporary halting of the silt removal process.
The protesting farmers allege that these individuals not only falsely accused them but also attempted to extort money by labelling them as 'mafia' and 'mineral looters'. A complaint was filed at the Thali police station on behalf of the farmers, seeking action against those who obstructed the silt removal work and made defamatory statements.
Today's demonstration took place in front of the Valavadi Panchayat office, where farmers raised slogans condemning those who spoke disparagingly about them. They also demanded additional days for silt removal, as they lost three days of work due to the false accusations despite having valid permits.
The farmers emphasized that they had obtained proper permission for silt extraction and urged authorities to take action against those who falsely accused them and obstructed their work. Over 20 police personnel were deployed to maintain order during the protest.