THIRUMURUGAN GANDHI'S DAY OF FREEDOM ON GANDHI JAYANTHI; RELEASED FROM VELLORE PRISON

Activist Thirumurugan Gandhi was released from Vellore prison on Tuesday. The 42-year-old coordinator of the May 17 Movement, a prominent civil rights group, was booked under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) last month after returning from Geneva, where he had spoken at a United Nations Human Rights Council session about the police firing on the May 22 protest in Thoothukudi that killed 13 civilians.

He was booked under section 124 A (sedition), 153 A (1) and 153 (b) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc) of the Indian Penal Code.

Gandhi was also staunchly against the eight-lane Chennai Salem Green Corridor project. The Chennai Police registered 30 cases against him for organising agitations, processions, and a candle-light vigil at the Marina Beach in violation of regulatory orders, cite media reports.