PUCL demands impartial investigation into the assault on Dr. Suresh during a public hearing in Tirunelveli; calls it an attack on freedom of expression and human rights
Ranchi: The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jharkhand unit, has strongly condemned the physical attack on Dr. V. Suresh, National General Secretary of PUCL and senior advocate at the Madras High Court. The incident took place on Sunday, November 2, 2025, during a People’s Campaign for Justice public hearing in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, which focused on the social and environmental impacts of illegal stone quarrying in the region.
At the time of the assault, Dr. Suresh was presiding over the tribunal as its chairperson. Around 25 individuals, reportedly including a few lawyers, launched a violent attack with the intent to disrupt the hearing and intimidate participants. During the chaos, a chair was thrown at Dr. Suresh, hitting him on the neck and causing bleeding injuries.
According to reports, the attack appears to be linked to Dr. Suresh’s earlier role as Amicus Curiae in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that exposed a large-scale illegal beach sand mining scam in Tirunelveli. The PIL had led to a court-ordered ban on such mining operations.
In a statement, the PUCL national body said:
“It is evident that alleged supporters of the mining mafia, posing as members of the public, deliberately created violent disruptions through criminal intimidation and physical assault, thereby obstructing the constitutional freedoms of expression and assembly.”
The organization added that the assault took place in the presence of the police, yet the authorities failed to intervene effectively and only arrested one person from the violent mob.
The PUCL Jharkhand has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into the attack on Dr. Suresh and the police’s failure to act, to register criminal cases against all those responsible, and to ensure that all culprits are arrested.
The PUCL also demanded that adequate protection be provided to Dr. Suresh and other human rights defenders working in the region.
“This attack is not merely on Dr. V. Suresh,” PUCL stated, “but on every individual’s right to human dignity, freedom of expression, and the ability to work safely and with respect. The involvement of certain lawyers in such unlawful conduct is particularly deplorable and must be condemned.”
Post a Comment