Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Environmentalist attacked

PATHANAMTHITTA: Environmentalist and member of the State-level Committee for River and Wetland Protection and Management (SCRWPM) K.A. Verghese was attacked by two unidentified persons in Thiruvalla on Friday night.

This is the third attack against Mr. Verghese in the last three months, sources said. Mr. Verghese has been campaigning against illegal sand-mining, land conversion and encroachment of government land in different parts Central Travancore for the past few years.

An interview he had given to a private television channel recently exposing the alleged “irregularities” in land deals as well as the functioning of a newly formed Church group in Thiruvalla and the campaign against the alleged encroachment of public property in the heart of the town for constructing a mosque had drawn criticism from certain quarters.

Mr. Verghese said he had also received life threats over phone during the past few days.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Verghese said the attack occurred at 11.10 p.m. when he was returning home on his scooter. The assailants followed him on a motorcycle and hit him with an iron rod. However, he warded off the attack and sustained injuries on his arms.

Sub-Inspector K.R. Pratheek rushed to the spot and took Mr. Verghese to the Thiruvalla Taluk Hospital.

The police have registered a case in connection with the incident, said Thomas John, Dy SP.

Eco-groups and environmentalists have condemned the attack on Mr Verghese. In separate statements, Manimalayar Samrakshana Samiti general secretary V.N. Gopinatha Pillai and Pampa Parirakshana Samiti general secretary N.K. Sukumaran Nair called for stern action against the culprits.

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