Road blockade in Vellore against TVK functionary who asked ‘₹1 lakh per month’ bribe from brick kiln operators

Residents, mostly ceramic kiln workers and their families, astatine Puthur colony successful Vellore territory blocked the Cuddalore - Chittoor Highway adjacent autobus terminus successful Kaniyambadi municipality connected Monday (May 25, 2026) against a section Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionary for reportedly demanding wealth to tally the units.

Residents said that villages specified arsenic Nelvoy, Puthur, Vallam, Athiyur, Budur, Kuppam and Odiyathur were traditionally dotted with ceramic kiln units owed to proximity to lakes and ponds successful these areas.

Most of the families successful these villages beryllium connected these units for work. The portion has had astatine slightest 300 ceramic kiln units for galore years. “Most of the ceramic kilns successful these villages are small-scale units. Work successful these units are seasonal arsenic silt from h2o bodies tin beryllium taken lone during summertime erstwhile h2o level declines. Such extortion of wealth by section governmental functionaries volition impact the livelihood of ceramic kiln workers,” said B. Pasupathi, a ceramic kiln worker.

Monthly ₹1 lakh from each ceramic kiln operator

Police said that the roadworthy blockade comes aft T.R. Vijayakumar, secretary, Kaniyambadi panchayat national East, for the TVK, section functionaries Lokesh and Eshwaran and enactment cadre visited 4 ceramic kilns successful Puthur colony connected May 22. These ceramic kilns person been tally by Dinakaran, Sunil Kumar, Ramesh and Suman for galore years.

Police said that the radical led by Vijayakumar was reportedly demanding each ceramic kiln relation to wage ₹1 lakh each period to tally their units smoothly without immoderate governmental interference.

Police said a heated statement broke retired betwixt ceramic kiln operators and workers with TVK functionaries successful the village. The incidental which was filmed and uploaded connected societal media platforms invited nationalist outrage.

Police said subsequently, ceramic kiln operators and TVK functionaries filed complaints separately against each different astatine Vellore Taluk police. A probe was underway.

Against this backdrop, ceramic kiln workers and families blocked the cardinal agelong astatine astir 10 a.m. connected Monday demanding enactment against the TVK functionaries. Traffic was deed connected the way for much than an hr earlier constabulary restored vehicular question connected the stretch.

Peace talks

Based connected alert, Vellore Taluk constabulary and gross officials pacified agitated residents who dispersed peacefully aft assurance that specified extortion threats volition not recur. A bid committee gathering led by R. Senthil Kumar, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Vellore, was held astatine Revenue Inspector (RI) bureau successful Kaniyambadi.

Silt mined illegally: TVK

Revenue officials said ceramic kiln operators urged officials to support their concern against specified threats by governmental parties arsenic these units supply livelihood for hundreds of families successful the area. On their part, TVK functionaries led by Vijayakumar told gross officials that a fewer ceramic kiln owners successful the country person been illegally mining silt from h2o bodies during nighttime to tally the units.

Revenue officials directed section constabulary to strengthen patrol during nighttime particularly adjacent h2o bodies to forestall specified amerciable soil mining. They besides told TVK functionaries to study specified amerciable activities to authorities authorities alternatively than taking it connected their hand. “We person heard complaints from ceramic kiln operators and TVK functionaries. We person advised them accordingly. Steps volition beryllium taken to code the contented of licence for ceramic kiln operators,” Mr. Senthil Kumar, RDO (Vellore), told The Hindu.