The Kerala high court on Friday directed the police to maintain law and order at the Vizhinjam International Transhipment project area and ensure the protection of workers there.
The direction came 11 days after work at the site was disrupted after fishermen protesting against the project barged into the site forcing the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited and contracting firm Howe Engineering Projects to move the court.
Justice Anu Sivaraman said no private person should take the law into their hands and directed the police commissioner and concerned station house officer to maintain law and order immediately.
The petitioners said the project was at a crucial stage and all clearances were secured from competent agencies, and it was unfair to disrupt work citing the ill effects of climate change and other reasons. After laying a siege to the port site, protestors breached barricades and entered the high-security zone.
The petitioner said though hundreds of police personnel were present at the site, they remained mute spectators and allowed protestors to enter the premises. They sought protection from central agencies.
The court posted the petition for further hearing on August 29 even as a spokesman for the protestors said their protest will continue in a peaceful manner.
The protestors barged into the site and blocked all roads to the port. The state government held talks with the Latin Catholic Church, which is spearheading the protests but failed to end the protests. The protestors have been demanding that the ongoing work be stopped. The state government rejected the demand.
Protestors say the large-scale construction work has impacted their livelihoods and promises of rehabilitation have not been kept. They rejected the 10 acres of land allocated for the rehabilitation of fishermen.
