Staff back at N-plant

TIRUNELVELI: Hours ar after the State Cabinet moved a resolution in favour of the Koodankulam NuclePower Plant (KKNPP), around 300 scientists and supporting staff proceeded for work to the plant. Informing this, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) S George said that heavy police force had been deployed at strategic locations in Koodankulam and warned that stringent action would be taken against those attempting to disrupt the functioning of the plant. “The three-shift operation of the plant will resume tomorrow,” he added.Earlier in the day, the police arrested 11 anti-Koodankulam protesters, including struggle committee members Sivasubramanian and Rajalingam, and another protest leader Ganesan in connection with earlier cases against them. A police official said around 200 cases had been booked against the protesters. At Kuthakuli, about 185 anti-Koodankulam protesters were arrested by the police when they attempted to stage a road roko.South Zone IG Rajesh Das is supervising security operations at Koodankulam, while two Deputy Inspector Generals of Police and 10 Superintendents of Police are camping in the area.“Thirty-three companies of the Tamil Nadu Special police and 30 platoons of Armed Reserve personnel have been deployed in the area to strengthen security in and around the plant,” said George, who is monitoring the entire security operations from Madurai.Besides, four companies of paramilitary forces were guarding the Koodankulam plant, he added.Riot control vehicles have been stationed at the junction of the two approach roads to the plant.The roads leading to the fishing hamlets have been blocked by the police to prevent protesters from advancing towards the plant. Tension prevailed in the area due to sudden deployment of heavy police force. Barricades were places on all the roads and shops downed shutters in Koodankulam and Idinthakarai.A heavy posse of policemen was deployed on the road from Anu Vijay Township, the residential quarters of the KKNPP staff, up to the Koodankulam Plant.