Villagers firm on K-losure

TIRUNELVELI: Though residents of coastal hamlets around Idinthakarai are gripped with fear as rumours of tough police action are doing the rounds in the region, yet they are firm in their demand over the closure of the KKNPP. A total of 13 hamlets, Vijayapathy Kezhloor, Vijayapathy Melur, Thillaivanam Thoppu, Aavudayalpuram, Kaaduthulla, Thillai Nagar, Kothankulam, Arasar Kulam, A V Thomas Mandapam, Kurinjikulam, Kamaneri and Idinthakarai are located around Koodankulam.  As Section 144 has been clamped in Radhapuram taluk under which these villages come, transport service to these hamlets has been  badly hit. Residents of these villages are gripped by fear because of the presence of large number of police personnel and the constant movement of their vehicles in and around their area. “Though they don’t threaten us, their very presence scares us. Menfolk hesitate to move out of the hamlet even fearing action by cops,” says a woman from Thillaivanam Thoppu. However, the police presence has not deterred the villagers from participating in the agitation at Idinthakarai. As a result, most of the villages which the Express visited appeared ‘deserted’ and almost all shops were shut. A majority of the villagers refused to talk to the media fearing police action.