People’s Watch urges govt. to protect activist Jagaber Ali’s family

High Court urged to investigate activist's death, highlighting dangers faced by whistleblowers and need for legal protection.

The High Court should suo motu take up the death of an activist Jagaber Ali 56, of Vengalur, who was allegedly mowed down by a tipper lorry in Tirumayam taluk in Pudukottai district on January 17 in a bid to silence the whistle-blower from raising his voice against illegal quarry operations, and order a thorough probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an officer in the rank of Inspector General of Police, said People’s Watch Executive Director Henri Tiphagne.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that like in the case of Sattankulam incident, where the court pitched in directly and monitored the death of Bennicks and Jayaraj, it should order a probe in the death of Jagaber Ali.

Stating that a fact-finding team, which visited Pudukottai on January 24, submitted a detailed report, he said that despite repeated pleas to government officials, including Pudukottai Collector (former and present), Superintendent of Police (former and present), the Assistant Director (Geology and Mines), Tahsildar and others, to take action against illegal stone quarries and crusher units, no action was taken.

That many functionaries in political parties (ruling and opposition) too had maintained stoic silence was baffling, Mr. Tiphagne said, adding that there was a clear case of connivance between various stakeholders, which encouraged directly and indirectly, and the illegal quarry owners to operate boldly.

Despite this, when Jagaber Ali continued his fight, he was silenced by mowing him down by a lorry.

As a result, waterbodies and natural resources had been affected badly in Tirumayam. Many dwellings were under the constant threat and in danger due to the frequent movements of tipper lorries and other heavy vehicles.

The fact-finding team members said that the licence given in November 2018 to the private quarry in Tirumayam taluk was suspended in November 2023. However, the quarry functioned. Hence, Jagaber Ali approached the High Court Bench in Madurai.