The DMK government in Tamil Nadu is pursuing the invocation of the Goondas Act against seven farmers engaged in a sit-in protest against the land acquisition for SIPCOT. This information was disclosed during the bail plea hearing at the Tiruvannamalai district court on November 15, 2023. 

As reported in The Commune, the government’s announcement of initiating Goondas Act proceedings was cited as a reason for the delay in the bail process.

The detained farmers are facing charges under various sections of the IPC, including 147, 341, 143, 294(b), 353, and 506(1), along with the Public Property Act. They had peacefully conducted a sit-in protest on their patta land for over 125 days, opposing the government’s plan to acquire 3,200 acres of agricultural wetland for leasing to private industries. The arrest on November 4 was based on an FIR filed in August.

According to Arappor Iyakkam, an activist group, a warrant obtained by them classifies a farmer named Pachayappan as a “thug”. It labels him as a drug smuggler, cybercriminal, drug peddler, forest offender, gangster, sex offender, squatter, and video thief. The warrant mentions his remand in Madurai Central Jail from November 15, 2023, under the Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (Tamil Nadu Act No. 14/1982).

Arappor Iyakkam posted on their platform, questioning Chief Minister Stalin’s actions and expressing concerns about using the Goondas Act against peaceful protesters. They wrote, “The DMK government has arrested a farmer named Pachayappan, who peacefully protested against the acquisition of his land by the government in Tiruvannamalai, under the Goondas Act that under which sex offenders, extortion offenders, and prostitution offenders are arrested. The protester in Tiruvannamalai was taken to Madurai jail so that his family would not be able to meet him easily.

Why is Chief Minister Stalin so angry with the farmers? Has the thought of being the dictator of Tamil Nadu crossed your mind?

Are the farmers who protest peacefully against the government thugs? Is this the social justice your party is talking about? Answer Mr. Stalin.”

Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai condemned the DMK government’s actions; he posted on his X handle, “While we think the DMK Govt can’t stoop any lower than its current state, they have proved us wrong by detaining farmers under the Goondas Act. Farmers in Tiruvannamalai district in TN have been protesting peacefully for the last 125 days against the government’s decision to acquire 3200 acres of agricultural land for the proposed sipcot. We condemn this cowardly act of the DMK Govt & BJP Tamil Nadu assures full legal support for the families of the detainees to ensure that the protesting farmers are protected from this Fascist DMK Regime.”