TN police detains student under Goondas Act

Tamil Nadu police which is on a crackdown spree against the activists detained a 23-year-old Mass Communication student, Valarmathi, under the Goondas Act. She was arrested for distributing pamphlets urging students of the Government Arts College for Women at Gorimedu in Salem to protest against the Neduvasal and Kathirmangalam hydrocarbon projects. Police allege that the pamphlets contained objectionable slogan supposedly harming the national interest.

This is the first time a woman political activist is being detained under the Goondas Act. Those detained under the Act cannot be out on bail for a year unless their detention is quashed.

Valarmathi's detention comes a month after the detention of activist Thirumurugan Gandhi and three others of May 17 Movement, under the same act.

On Monday, Salem police commissioner invoked the Goondas Act against Valarmathi citing six pending cases against her. "We condemn the fascist action of the Tamil Nadu government through the detention of Valarmathi under the Goondas Act. This is the first time a social activist is being detained under the draconian law in the political history of Tamil Nadu," Mugilan, coordinator of Tamil Nadu Environment Protection Movement said.