Seven attempt self-immolation against Expressway

Seven people of a family tried self-immolation in Erumayanpatti as the surveyors were measuring their lands on the fourth day of survey for the `10,000-crore Salem-Chennai greenfield highway.

DHARMAPURI: Seven people of a family tried self-immolation in Erumayanpatti as the surveyors were measuring their lands on the fourth day of survey for the `10,000-crore Salem-Chennai greenfield highway here on Thursday.

Chandirakumar, his wife, sons Tamilarasan and Balan, daughter and two siblings doused themselves with petrol and kerosene as their land in Erumyanpatti was surveyed.

Prior to police arriving in the area, he had tied black flags on his land condemning the government for destroying the fertile lands for the project.

An activist who is actively involved in conservation of forest, Chandirakumar told Express he had been growing rare herbs on his 2.5 acres of land. “I would be losing everything and my family will have nothing to live on. We do not want the government’s compensation. We just want our lands.”

He said the officials were disrespecting them and their lands. “They lay stones without our consent and it is unfair to confiscate our lands,” Ramakrishnan, another farmer, said.

When contacted, Daisy Kumar, Revenue Divisional Officer of Harur, refused to comment.

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