The Human Rights Forum (HRF) strongly condemned the physical attack on Dr. V. Suresh, National General Secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Senior Advocate of the Madras High Court.
HRF alleged that the attack, which took place in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, was carried out by hired operatives of the mining mafia. The public hearing was organized by the People’s Campaign for Justice to address the social and environmental issues arising out of illegal stone mining in Tirunelveli district.
HRF members said that Dr. Suresh, who presided over the jury of the People’s Tribunal, was attacked by 25 persons with the intention of disrupting the public hearing and threatening and intimidating the participants. During the attack on Dr. Suresh was thrown by a chair that hit him above the neck, leading to bleeding.
The attack occurred in connection with the previous work of Dr. Suresh as amicus curiae in a PIL that exposed a massive illegal beach mining scam in Tirunelveli. The case led to a mining ban.
“We believe that some mining companies involved in this scam are behind Sunday’s attack,” VS Krishna and S. Jeevan Kumar, members of the HRF AP & Telangana Coordination Committee, said in a statement.
HRF urges TN government to launch independent investigation into attack on Dr. Suresh, in the circumstances of non-interference by the police, registered criminal cases and arrested all the responsible persons.
Published – 03 Nov 2025 21:20 IST
