Balakrishnan, a farmer, has been tending his goats under the protection of armed policemen for the last two and a half years due to the threat of sand mafias near Murappanadu in Tuticorin district. He demanded an end to the dominance of sand mafias and protection of Tamirabarani river.
Incidents of killing of
government officials,
police and social activists continue in
tamil Nadu for raising their voice against sand robbery. In particular, many
people lost their lives fighting against sand robbery in Tuticorin and
tirunelveli districts. It is noteworthy that 3 days ago Murappanadu Kovilpath
village administration officer Lourdes Francis was killed by a gang of sand robbers.
The dominance of sand mafias in the areas adjacent to Tamirabarani river continues to threaten not only the
government officials,
police, social
workers but also the common people. The fact that a farmer has been given armed
police protection for the past two and a half years is a testament to the dominance of the sand mafia. About 1 km from Murappanadu village. In the distance, Akaram is located on the other
bank of Tamiraparani river. Balakrishnan (47), a farmer from this
village, is also the 1st ward member of Akaram panchayat.
In 2019, Balakrishnan lodged a complaint with the Murappanadu
police station regarding sand robbery in the Tamiraparani river. As no action was taken, he filed a case in the
madurai branch of the High Court.
Due to this, he received constant death threats. Balakrishnan filed a complaint in the High Court. Confirming that there was a threat to his life, the
madurai Division of the
high court ordered him in
november 2020 to provide round-the-clock
police protection. Balakrishnan has been accompanied by an armed policeman for round-the-clock security.