The following post was originally published on dianuke.org The site seems suspended under questionable circumstances. The message is being republished here in solidarity of the struggle and with a view to the time sensitive nature of the appeal for help.
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update from Nithyanand Jayaraman
It is difficult to get reliable news. The folks in Idinthakarai are in a virtual prison, and cannot go out to verify. Our friends from Tirunelveli suggest that 10 companies, or 2000 police, are posted in and around Idinthakarai. That is roughly four police for every woman fasting to since May 4 to be heard. The fear is that the police will attempt to arrest Udayakumar and Pushparayan tonight. But when Prashant Bhushan spoke to DIG Varadarajulu, he said that the 2000 people were posted as a precautionary measure, and that they have no intent to move into the village. That is a bit difficult to believe. At the very least, this is war talk. Why do they need 2000 armed men to contain 500 women fasting non-violently?
If the police contingent moves in to the village, the villagers will not keep quiet. We hope that things don’t get ugly. Please call the Police and advise them against precipitate action. The villagers are interested in dialogue, and the police should work towards that:
Call:
Bidari, Superintendent of Police: 9940193494
Varadarajulu. Deputy Inspector General of Police:9840970530