PMANE withdraws fast, government lifts curbs

TIRUNELVELI: After nine days of indefinite fast at Idinthakarai, People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) coordinator SP Udayakumar and others ended it on Tuesday night, after Tirunelveli Collector S Selvaraj agreed to revoke Section 144 CrPC at other areas expect Koodankulam.PMANE is spearheading the anti-Koodankulam nuclear plant protest.On Tuesday, talks between State government officials and representatives of protestors were held at the Radhapuram Taluk Office.Col lector Selvaraj , Tirunelveli Range DIG V Varadaraju, SP Vijayendra S Bidari, Cheranmahadevi Sub Collector Rohini Ramdass and Radhapuram Tasildar Subramanian represented the government, while about 10 representatives led by Arimavalavan of Radhapuram represented the protestors.Besides, Madurai RC Archbishop Peter Fernando and Father Selvaraj also participated.The talks lasted for about three hours, after which, the representatives of the protestors went to Idinthakarai to discuss with Udayakumar and others.Later, Udayakumar and others ended the fast.Udayakumar told Express that as the collector agreed to revoke Section 144 CrPC at other areas except the Koodankulam plant area, they ended the indefinite fast. But “we would continue the protest as relay fast from tomorrow,” he added.Collector Selvaraj said the prohibitory order was relaxed in other areas on Tuesday night. It would be in effect in the 2-km radius around Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project for 15 more days.On March 19, when police force was deployed at Koodankulam, Idinthakarai and nearby coastal areas, the agitators, including protest committee member Sivasubramanian, Pushparayan and others began the indefinite fast. The same day, Collector Selvaraj imposed Section 144 in the Radhapuram area.