Here are some of Dr. Pugazhenthi’s recent articles:Dr. V. Pugazhenthi is acclaimed for his rigorous and credible studies on health impact of radiation around Kalpakkam nuclear site. He is one of the members of people’s expert committee in the ongoing anti-nuclear movement in Koodankulam. We have been publishing Dr. Pugazhenthi’s articles, jointly written with Dr. V T Padmanabhan and Dr. R. Ramesh on DiaNuke.org in last few months. It is unfortunate that he is being victimized to this extent. From the past, we know about the story of Dr. B K Subbarao’s victimization at the hands of the nuclear establishment.
- Starting Koodankulam reactor without sufficient backup water would be fatal
- Thyroid Cancer Corridor in India and the Chernobyl Iodine Fallout
- India’s Post-Fukushima Nuclear Safety Task Force: Not so sure about TAPS Safety
Dr. V.Pugazhenthi MBBS,
1/187, Mudhaliyar Street,
Sadras, Kanchipuram District,
Tamil Nadu, India
603 102
Ph: 8870578769
To: All the Democratically Concerned People of Tamil Nadu, India and the World
Respected Friend, Madam/Sir:
Subject: False Charges filed on me to
curtail my professional and democratic duty to warn the people I am
serving about the ill effects of the nuclear radiation around the
Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant
I am a medical doctor practicing in Sadras
village near the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, India,
since 1989. I was a gold medalist during my undergraduate years at
Madurai Medical College, but chose not to pursue higher education
because I felt I should work among the poor masses in the villages. I
chose Sadras as the place for my practice since I had many friends at
Kalpakkam, who happened to work in the Kalpaakam Nuclear Power Plant.
The survey showed a very high incidence and this made me plunge into studying the effects of radiation among the local populace. I have not looked back ever since and have conducted many a health surveys since. I have remained a whistle blower who have ardently asked the Nuclear Power Plant authorities to follow nationally and internationally accepted safety codes. Appreciating my work, I have been asked to become the technical and medical consultant to a group of concerned local citizens on the ill effects of radiation. This group called “ Anuk Kathirveechu Paathukaappukkaana Makkal Iyakkam” (Peoples Movement for Protection Against Nuclear Radiation)” is to conduct a protest on 12 December 2011 against the breech of nationally and internationally laid safety codes by the authorities of the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant. Their contention has valid scientific proofs. People belonging to this movement are working for the past one month to make this protest a successful one.
It is in this background, I received a
telephone call at 6 PM on 1 December 2011 from the Puthupattinam police
station. The police inspector Mr.Siva Kumar, told me that the
Puthupattinam Panchayat Chief had filed a petition against me and
whether I could go to the Police Station for an enquiry in this regard. I
was busy in my clinic and told him once my works were over I would meet
him at the station. I went to the police station at 7.30 PM. I was
asked to wait. The police inspector then telephoned the panchayat chief.
He arrived at the station by 8..10 PM. The enquiry lasted for about 30
minutes. I left the place by 8.50 PM.
The police inspector narrated the charges filed against me by Mr.Kaliaperumal :
- Mr.Kaliyaperumal, the Panchayat Chief of Puthupattinam village has filed a petition against me and one Mr.Nehru. He is charging us both that we had threatened to murder him if he does not cooperate with out anti nuclear work.
- The alleged threat was sent to him in the form of an anonymous letter, which he said was penned by Mr.Nehru under my direction.
- An SMS to his mobile phone from an unknown mobile phone number had also threatened to murder him. This is also alleged to have been sent by someone close to me under my directions.
- Many SMS notes keep coming to his mobile phone from unknown numbers abusing him. He believes that all these SMS notes are sent to him under my directions.
I gave the following replies to the police inspector with respect to the above charges:
I do not involve myself in any anti nuclear
work. I am only discharging my professional service by telling everyone
about the findings culled from my two decade long work and critical
studies related to health and nuclear radiation in general and Kalpakkam
Nuclear Power Plant in particular. I am not an organiser of any anti
nuclear movement but am and will remain a technical and medical
consultant of such movements. Recently I have been asked by People’s
Movement Against Nuclear Energy that spearheads people’s agitation
against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, to share my professional
experiences as one of its panel of experts. Like this, I have shared my
experiences and studies with people all around the country.
I have met the Panchayat Chief
Mr.Kaliaperumal on various occasions. I have even congratulated him on
the day he had won the local election. I have talked to him cordially
always. I have explained to him as I explain to everyone I meet, about
the issue of nuclear radiation around. As I work as a medical
professional and not as a political organiser, where does the question
of me threatening him to join my work? My work is to treat, study and
share. Where does his charge fit in?
However, as you are asking me a particular
question, I state here that I have not at any moment threatened
Mr.Kaliaperumal to join an anti nuclear agitation.
I have nothing to do with the anonymous
letter that threatens Mr.Kaliaperumal with death. I know Mr.Nehru, but
under no circumstance he is working with me. The charge that Mr.Nehru
wrote this letter under my influence is a concocted lie.
I have nothing to do with any of the SMS notes that are alleged to be received by Mr.Kaliaperumal.
As I finished with my reply, the police
inspector said he has not filed the First Information Report. However,
he asked me to give in writing that “I would be present at the police
station whenever I am summoned by him for further enquiries. If I am not
present for such enquiries, then I agree that the charges kept on me is
true.” I told him what that would mean to my daily professional
schedule. I explained to him how the poor patients who come to see me
from miles afar would deeply suffer. However, he insisted that I should
give this in writing. At last, as a good samaritan,I gave him in writing
that whenever he summons me I would be present at the police station.
Once I gave him this written note, he told
me in a very harsh warning voice: “ Doctor! Do you know that I can book
you under national Security Act for whatever the works that you are
doing? By the way…. Have you ever heard anything about “police
encounter”? So, be careful.”
I remain baffled. However, there’s no way my professional and democratic work can be suspended by any force whatever.
I strongly suspect the hand of the
authorities of the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant behinnd all this. They
are particularly disturbed by the facts I have recently published with
respect to the safety codes being practiced by them. They are, I
suspect, disturbed by a news that I am about to publish a book that is
to question the various safety issues related with the power plant. I
think, by intimidating me with such police threats, they believe that
they will be able to make the Kalpakkam environment radiologically safe.
I have been open always for discussion with
the authorities of the power plant. I have met them many a times and
have always shared all the data available with me. However, they have,
over the past 10 years have not tried to answer any of my questions in
the earnest. Now, I suspect, that they have decided to opt other means
to silence my work.
It is in this regard, I request all of you – my democratically minded brethren – to pray and voice for me and my family members.
Sincerely Yours
Dr.V.Pugazhenthi MBBS
Puthupattinam,
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
2 December 2011
Puthupattinam,
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
2 December 2011
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