Anti-Sterlite activist Mugilan, missing since February, found in Tirupati

Environmental activist T Mugilan alias Shanmugam, who had gone missing following a press conference related to the police firing during anti-Sterlite protests in Tuticorin, was detained by the Andhra Pradesh police in Tirupati railway station on Saturday (July 6).

On February 15, Mugilan had orgnaised a press conference regarding the police firing against the anti-Sterlite protesters on May 22, 2018, in which 13 people were killed. In the press conference, the activist had released documents which alleged that the firing was orchestrated by some top police officials. Later that day, he boarded a train to Madurai and disappeared mysteriously.

Following his disappearance, activists and political parties across the state conducted demonstrations and demanded the state to find him. Many people suspected that he might have been killed.

But the state government repeatedly denied the allegation that he might have been killed and went on to allege that he himself had been hiding somewhere. Several cases have been filed in courts to find him.

During one such hearing last month, police said it has found vital clues and the investigation was on in the right direction. 

Andhra police said during a routine patrol at Tirupati railway station, they found a man who acted in a suspicious way. When they detained him, he started to shout slogans against the Centre and state governments. He was detained following that. They were not aware that it was Mugilan.

When news about his detention and a video of it spread online, the Tamil Nadu police reportedly alerted their Andhra counterparts. The Andhra police will be handing over Mugilan to the Tamil Nadu police soon.

Activists have demanded that Mugilan should be brought safely and be produced before the Madras High Court immediately.