Priest among anti-nuke protesters arrested at Kudankulam plant

Several dozens of activists and protesters were arrested during a hunger strike after Tamil Nadu government cleared the commissioning of the nuclear plant in Kudankulam.

According to reports, nearly 200 people were arrested as Russian engineers resumed work one of the two 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors.

"We arrested around 190 protesters on Monday," said Vijendra Bidari, police chief of Tirunelveli district.

"Those we have arrested were involved in this protest. They are from the surrounding areas," Bidari told AFP.

The People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), a group spearheading the stir, Monday alleged that the police were harassing protesters who had peacefully gathered.

Nearly 3000 policemen including Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in and around the plant.

"Police have clamped down prohibitory orders under Section 144 in our area prohibiting people from congregating in any manner," said Dr SP Udaykumar, Convener of PMANE.

The anti-nuke activist confirmed that the police arrested some 185 men and women and their parish priest Fr Suseelan at Koottapuli Village, when they were peacefully protesting the police action.

PMANE's advocates and core committee members were also arrested and charged with sedition including Sections 121, 121 A and 153 A, he said.

While he demanded the immediate release of the arrested people, he also stressed on a thorough and complete probe of geologists, hydrologists and oceanographers into the safety issues of KKNPP.

'We appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu to be aware of this assault on the Tamil community and we appeal to the people of India to be mindful of implementing nuclear nightmares in our densely populated country. They are preparing to load uranium fuel rods into the reactor without conducting any safety or evacuation drills," said Udaykumar.

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, resolved to take immediate steps for the early commissioning of the plant.

The Chief Minister further also announced a Rs 500 crore special development package for development of the infrastructure around the plant.

The Indian Nuclear Power Corporation had entered into an agreement with the Russian government in 1988 to establish two units of 1,000 mw nuclear power reactors at Kudankulam.

The first two units of KNPP capable of producing 1000 MW each are almost complete.

Protestors at Kudankulam have cited Fukushima accident in Japan as the reason for blocking work on the reactors.