Yanam Violence: Bandh on 2 February

With talks between Puducherry chief minister and the leaders of political parties and trade unions failing, it has been decided to observe bandh on 2 February to protest the death of workers leader MS Murali Mohan and injury to nine people in police action in Yanam region of the Union Territory.

The political and trade union leaders met the chief minister N Rangasamy on Tuesday afternoon and held discussions about the violent incidents in Yanam. They informed him about the demands for a judicial probe by High Court judge and adequate compensation to the dead and the injured. The CM asked them to wait for the report of the magisterial enquiry and did not commit anything further. T Murugan, V Perumal (CPM), R Viswanathan, Na Ra Kalainathan (CPI), Pavanan (VCK),Panduran agn (MDMK) and Ramachandran (CPI (ML)), Abhishegam (AITUC) and Ravichandran (INTUC) participated in the meeting.

Speaker Sabapathy, who was present in the meeting, urged the opposition leaders to reconsider their decision to go ahead with the proposed bandh as Puduchery was recovering from the devastation caused by Cyclone Thane. The meeting was held following a request from top police officials to reconsider the decision on bandh as the relief measures for the cyclone-affected was going on. CPM state secretary V Perumal said the bandh was to express solidarity with the people of Yanam and to protect the democratic rights of the workers and to ensure rule of law in the region.