CHENNAI: Over the last year, many activists had been arrested for raising questions about big projects such as the Salem-Chennai green corridor, but the iron fist seems to have started knocking out even activists who question small flood mitigation projects.
Chitlapakkam police on Sunday remanded two local activists who raised questions about the tender process followed by Chitlapakkam panchayat for its cut-and-cover drain project and merely demanded a work order from the contractor implementing a section of the project on Saturday.
It is learnt that commencement of work on the project even before the tender deadline on Wednesday evening had raised suspicion among residents who demanded to see the work order for the project.
Police have booked the two activists Balachandran and Kumar, from local activist group Chitlapakkam
Rising, for alleged offences of rioting, uttering obscene words and criminal intimidation following a complaint from Chitlapakkam panchayat executive officer.
However, they have failed to take action against the panchayat’s Assistant executive engineer Manoharan who is seen snatching the mobile phone of a resident recording the meeting between the residents and officials on Saturday.
This move by Chitlapakkam police has come under fire from civic activists and has attracted criticism on social media and messenger services.
“All this points to the nexus and possibility of huge corruption in the tender process which when questioned is stifled through violence of the State,” said Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of a city-based NGO Arappor Iyakkam.
Interestingly, the police have named Sunil, a key member of Chitlapakkam Rising as the fourth accused even though he is not in the country at the moment. “This clearly shows mala fide intent,” said Jayaram Venkatesan.
The district Collector P Ponniah was not available for comment despite multiple attempts by Express to reach him.