Madurai Activist writes to PDJ complaining about non-receipt of protection as per court order

An activist from Vadipatti complaining about non-receipt of any protection under the Witness Protection Scheme as per the district court’s order penned a letter to the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Madurai district Superintendent of Police and Deputy Director of Prosecution.The petitioner M. Gnanasekaran, an activist vocal about illegal practices of the mining companies, had faced death threats and even sustained injuries from a recent attack.
Citing threats to his life, Mr. Gnanasekaran, on January 10, 2025, filed an application for protection under the Witness Protection Scheme.Even when the court granted him protection under the scheme on May 16, he alleged in the petition that no protection as stipulated in the order was extended to him and his family.“The police, as per the order, have so far not installed any CCTVs around my house. Also, they do not carry out regular patrolling around my house,” he added.
As his house was located near the road which was used to carry quarry materials and stones from the nearby quarries, he said any time a lorry could be used to eliminate him when he was on the road or even outside his house.Some of the recommended protections like installing security doors, alarms, fence around witness’s house, monitoring of mail and telephone calls, close protection, ensuring that witness and the accused do not come face to face during investigation or trial, among others, were yet to be provided to the petitioner, he stated.Accusing senior police officials of Vadipatti station of being in a close relationship with the quarry owners, he said that a police inspector of a different station under the same jurisdiction should be entrusted with the duty to provide protection.