Salem Expressway: Homage to 7 dead ryots

SALEM: In a moving tribute, hundreds of farmers from Poolavari area near here paid homage to the memory of seven from their agricultural fraternity who lost their lives in the last one year in the wake of the farmers agitation against the Salem-Chennai Expressway eight-lane green corridor project, which they fear will ruin the livelihood of farmers in this belt.

The farmers with their family members came in a procession to an agriculture farm where the meeting was arranged, offered floral tributes to the photos of the deceased farmers and lit candles in paying homage. The grieving farmers along with their children then stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect for the departed souls.

Reiterating their opposition to the Expressway, the farmers vowed they will defend their agriculture lands at all costs, “even at the expense of our lives”.