Kudankulam:
Anti-nuclear protesters near Kudankulam have found a new method of protest. After standing in the sea for two days, they have buried themselves neck-deep in sand on the shores near the nuclear plant site.
Thousands of villagers, including women and children, were seen buried in sand, holding placards along the beach, demanding the preparations for fuel loading in the reactor be halted.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court refused to stay loading of fuel for the Kudankulam plant but agreed to examine the risk associated to the project, saying safety of people living in its vicinity is of prime concern.
Earlier, taking a cue from a similar protest demanding land as compensation and reduction in water of Omkareshwar Dam recently by villagers of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, the Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) too launched 'jal satyagraha', marking a new turn in their agitation.
More than 4,000 police personnel, bolstered by Rapid Action Force, continued to maintain a strict vigil, having almost sealed the entire Kudankulam town. The Coast Guard aircraft and ships maintained surveillance at sea off Idinthakarai.
Meanwhile, the search for SP Udayakumar, the leader of the protesters, is still on, police said. He had announced that he would surrender on Tuesday night, but later did a U-turn. According to police, Satishkumar - a close associate of SP Udayakumar - was arrested in Chennai on Friday for trying to "instigate" the fishermen there to join the stir against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP).
(With inputs from PTI)