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Chennai Police Arrests Lawyer S Vanchinathan for 'inciting violence' during anti-Sterlite protests

Team SoOLEGAL 22 Jun 2018 5:00pm

Chennai Police Arrests Lawyer S Vanchinathan for 'inciting violence' during anti-Sterlite protests

S Vanchinathan, an advocate at the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, was arrested by the Chennai Police on Wednesday on grounds of engineering anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi on May 22.

Vanchinathan along with Advocate K Hari Raghavan had filed an anticipatory bail application in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on May 18, after they were booked on charges of instigating protests in Thoothukudi.

Read more: Hearing on lawyers’ bail plea accused of staging anti-Sterlite protests adjourned till June 18

The arrest took place just two days after the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court dismissed the advance bail plea filed by Vanchinathan and the other lawyer.

Vanchinathan, is also the state co-ordinator of the People’s Right Protection Centre (PRPC), and was arrested by the Thoothukudi Police, following the allegations that he had provided legal aid to the protesters after the anti-Sterlite protests turned violent.

Following Vanchinathan’s arrest, PRPC published a statement claiming that FIRs registered against activists and lawyers is a way to repress and frighten the protesters.

“The police are using these FIR’s and other first information reports as a tool to suppress the people’s movement and prevent the people from lodge complaint or deposition about police killing either before CBCID or Commission of enquiry by Retired Justice Aruna Jegadeesan. (sic)”, the PRPC statement reads.

The organisation has also demanded the release of all the protesters who were arrested soon after the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi turned violent, resulting in the death of thirteen persons.

The Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) has also condemned Vanchinathan’s arrest and demanded his release.

Also, IAPL has issued a press statement which reads,

“Following the brutal police crackdown in Tuticorin on people protesting against Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant in which 13 people were shot dead, Tamil Nadu Police has continued the crackdown on various people who have been associated with the protests against Sterlite Copper. This includes lawyers who helped with filing various cases against Sterlite.”

 

The press release further reads,

“The arrest of Vanchinathan and continued intimidation of other lawyers by Tamil Nadu police who helped file cases against Sterlite is vindictive, cowardly and an indefensible act. These arrests are intended to produce a chilling effect to scare other lawyers from appearing in sensitive cases challenging undemocratic and anti-constitutional policies and actions of the government.”

 

 



Tagged: Advocate S Vanchinathan Arrested   High Court Advocate Madurai   antiSterlite Protest Thoothukudi   Chennai Police   PRPC  
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