A prominent Tamil Nadu farmer leader has been handed a significant prison sentence for his role in a protest nearly a decade ago. P R Pandiyan, the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers' Association, was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment by a Tiruvarur court on Saturday. The conviction relates to damage caused to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) property during a demonstration in 2015.
The 2015 Protest and Charges
The incident dates back to July 16, 2015. Pandiyan led a group of protesters to an ONGC exploration site located at Kariyamangalam in the Kottur block. The protest was staged against the company's continued operations at the site, which locals opposed following a reported gas leak in 2013. According to the case, the protesters forced open the gate, damaged a shed, verbally abused ONGC staff, and threatened them with dire consequences. Police eventually intervened to disperse the crowd.
Following a formal complaint lodged by an ONGC contractor, the Vikkirapandiyam police registered a case. Pandiyan and others were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including armed rioting, criminal intimidation, and property damage. The trial was conducted at the additional mahila court in Tiruvarur.
Court Verdict After a Decade-Long Trial
After a legal process that stretched for almost ten years, Sessions Judge G Sarathraj pronounced the verdict. The court convicted prime accused P R Pandiyan and a second accused, Selvaraj, sentencing both to 13 years of rigorous imprisonment under multiple IPC sections. In addition to the prison term, the judge imposed fines of Rs 13,000 on Pandiyan and Rs 13,500 on Selvaraj.
In a significant relief to others involved, the court acquitted the remaining 20 accused individuals in the case. The lengthy trial underscores the complex judicial process surrounding protest-related violence in the region.
Contrasting Recognition for the Farmer Leader
The sentencing presents a stark contrast to the recent public recognition Pandiyan received. Just last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Pandiyan for his speech at the South Indian Natural Farming Summit held in Coimbatore. This acknowledgment highlighted Pandiyan's role as an advocate for agricultural causes, even as his legal battle was nearing its conclusion.
The verdict is likely to send ripples through farmer activist circles in Tamil Nadu, where Pandiyan has been a vocal figure on issues related to the Cauvery river and farmers' rights. The case also highlights the legal repercussions of protest actions that lead to damage of public or corporate property.
