Times of India: Chennai: Thursday, 10 July 2014.
D
Selvendran's fight against corruption in his native Chittilabakkam near
Kalpakkam has proved costly. His children have been unable to go to school and
the family of four, facing a threat from local politicians, has taken refuge at
a relative's house at Siruthavoor near Thiruporur.
At an event
organised by Satta Panchayat Iyakkam, an NGO, in the city on Wednesday, the
34-year-old RTI activist said everything in his village, from ration cards to
widow pensions, had to be bought. While he fought against this and some
politicians drove his family away, police took no action on his complaints, he
said.
"I
erected a banner with a message against corruption in front of my house. I also
spread word on the RTI Act and asked villagers not to pay bribe for any
government services" said Selvendran, a driver.
In his
complaint to police, he said AIADMK's Thirukazhukundram taluk joint secretary
Selvaraj, advocate Dinesh Kumar, village assistant Swami Das and Arumugam, who
works at Kalpakkam atomic power station, came to his house at night on June 19
and asked the family to leave. "They were upset about my anti-corruption
messages as they were collecting 2,000-3,000 as bribe for government
services," he said.
He said water
supply to his house was cut. "We didn't have any other alternative other
than leaving the place," he said.
His wife
Reeta, a dalit, said: "My husband is unable to go to work. Our children
have not gone to school for more than ten days. We returned home on Tuesday
after we lodged complaints with the CM's cell, DGP office and collector's
office hoping they will protect us."
However, the
local AIADMK leader and a few others threatened them with dire consequences.
"They hurled stones and tried to set our house afire.
The villagers
are also helpless. But where will we go with these children?" she wept.
She said they would have to commit suicide if threats continued. "They
will be responsible if something happens to our lives."
When
contacted, Selvaraj said, "I didn't threaten anyone or ask them to vacate
the place." Dinesh Kumar, too, denied the allegations. Sub-inspector of
Sadras police station S Vijakumar was unavailable to comment.
Satta
Panchayat Iyakkam president Siva Elango said some politicians were running a
?khap panchayat' (kangaroo court) in the village. "It's unfortunate that a
family is being excommunicated for creating awareness against corruptionThe
government is responsible for protecting the family."
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