HRDA has sought a transfer of the Jagaber Ali murder case to the CB-CID Special Police Department under the supervision of the High Court and compensation for his family.
The Pudukkottai town police have denied permission for a protest organised by Human Rights Defenders’ Alert (HRDA) demanding justice for the murder of whistleblower K Jagaber Ali. The protest, scheduled for Saturday, March 15, was rejected on grounds of location constraints.
HRDA has sought a transfer of the Jagaber Ali murder case to the CB-CID Special Police Department under the supervision of the High Court and compensation for his family.
Jagaber Ali, an anti-sand mining activist and a member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), was killed in Vengalur, Pudukkottai district, on January 17 after a lorry hit his bike. Police investigations later revealed that he was allegedly murdered by individuals linked to a quarry against which he had filed complaints with the district administration over illegal mining activities.
According to police, protests are typically held at Thilagar Thidal, but the organisers had sought permission to demonstrate at Anna Salai. The request was denied citing concerns over traffic congestion and the presence of commercial establishments, religious sites, and hospitals in the area.
HRDA executive member Ibrahim Babu told The News Minute (TNM), “We applied for permission 20 days ago, but we received the rejection only a day before yesterday.” He added that the organisation plans to challenge the decision in court.
In a video recorded before his death, Jagaber Ali alleged that RR Sand Crushers was involved in large-scale illegal mineral theft and claimed to have filed complaints with the Tahsildar, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), District Revenue Officer (DRO), Collector, and the Minerals Department. He also accused the Tahsildar of leaking information to the company.
The Pudukkottai police have arrested four individuals—R Rasu, owner of RR Sand Crushers, along with S Muruganandhan, Kasinathan, and R Dinesh Kumar—under Sections 194(1), 191(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). They have been remanded in judicial custody. RR Sand Crushers’ co-owner, Ramaiya, surrendered at the Namanasamuthiram police station on January 23. The case was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID for further investigation.
