ArpudhaKani 

Environmental Activist 

Tamil Nadu

Mr. ArpudhaKani (53) is a farmer and land rights activist from Madatha Kulam, P Mariyur Panchayat, Kadaladi Taluk, Ramanathapuram. He is an active member of Maan Meetpu Kulu organisation who work for the protection of agricultural lands in the locality of Kadaladi Taluk. 

Human Rights Defenders Alert issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission on the assault on Mr. Arpudhakani for his activism against environmental pollution and encroachment of agricultural land and the negligence of Ramanathapuram police in protecting the HRD. 

While it is the state’s responsibility to ensure the safety of HRDs, the police in this case did not investigate properly or charge the perpetrators with section 307 (attempt to murder) even though the attack was clearly meant to kill the HRD. The HRD also alleged that the police had not recorded his full statement in the FIR that was registered one the attack. 

We urged the Hon’ble Commission to direct the Superintendent of Police of Ramanathapuram, Tamilnadu to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry into the assault on the HRD Mr. Arpudhakani and immediately charge the assaulters under section 307. We also urged the Hon’ble Commission to direct the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry in the allegations of environmental damage and land encroachment by Chemfab in Ramanathapuram, as the HRD was attacked after his attempts to bring to light the damage and encroachment caused by factory.