Namakkal: Much to the chagrin of the district administration and police, the State Government, following the Advisory Board's recommendations, has revoked the detention of a human rights activist under the Goondas Act.
The Home Department issued the orders revoking the detention of Mathialagan (48), general secretary, TN People's Rights Movement (TNPRM), on Tuesday as the Board found "no sufficient cause for the detention", sources said.
Mathialagan was detained under the Goondas Act on May 27, 2015 as directed by the Namakkal District Collector. Earlier, he was arrested by Velur police on May 6 for allegedly inciting caste conflict at Pothanur which led to a minor clash between Vanniar and Sozhia Vellalar community about a temple festival.
Human rights activists described the detention as an act of vendetta as he was vocal in objecting to plunder of natural resources and protested in front of the collectorate.
The revocation order stated, "The Advisory Board has expressed its unanimous opinion that there is no sufficient cause for the detention Mathialagan. Therefore in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of section 12 of Tamilnadu Act 14 of 1982, the Governor of Tamilnadu hereby revokes the order of detention dated 27/05/2015 made by the District Magistrate and District Collector, Namakkal District...."
The order further said Mathialagan should be released forthwith unless he was detained under any other law or was serving any sentence after conviction by any Court.
Poomozhi, president, TNPRM, who had spoken before the Advisory Board on behalf of Mathialagan, said the revocation order had proved the District Collector and the SP wrong.
"The cases slapped on Mathialagan were deliberately foisted by police to silence his voice," he said and added that Mathialagan would be released from the Central Prison, Salem, on Wednesday.