CHENNAI: City police arrested Narmada, an activist after she allegedly attempted to drop sea crabs in front of the Fisheries minister D Jayakumar's residence on Friday, demanding officials to fulfil all demands announced in the Assembly for the fisheries department.
Recently, over 50 families residing at Pattinapakkam lost their houses to swell waves. The sea has been battering the area since the last 15 days triggering massive sea erosion. Every time, a swell hits the tenements it carries away chunks of sand weakening the foundation and making the houses unstable.
Finally, scores of houses gave-in on Tuesday forcing people to take shelter in the neighbouring houses or elsewhere. This is the third consecutive year in a row, swell waves that occur during southwest monsoon have wreaked havoc at Pattinapakkam, a prominent fishing locality located south of Marina beach.
Following this, Jayakumar visited the spot and assured the families of relief. "Since, no relief was given so far, Narmada took a few crabs and went to the minister's residence and attempted to drop it in front of his house causing a flutter in the locality," said a police source.
Security personnel posted at the minister's house immediately detained the woman and the Foreshore Estate police arrested her.
Police said the families at Pattinapakkam agreed to what the minister said and never staged any protest. But, Narmada, a resident of Anna Nagar from the beginning had been protesting and on Friday she tried to trespass.
Meanwhile, the issue echoed in the Assembly with Mylapore MLA R Nataraj urging the State government to provide alternative accommodation for the families which were affected by sea erosion at Pattinapakkam.
Responding, Jayakumar said himself and Nataraj inspected the houses affected by sea erosion and promised the affected families they would be given alternative accommodation in Perumbakkam area. They had accepted it happily. "But, a woman from Anna Nagar came to my residence and released crabs there as a protest just to get cheap publicity."