Jagaber Ali, son of Kareem, is a resident of Vengalur, Konapattu (PO), Thirumayam Taluk, Pudukkottai District. He is a AIADMK functionary in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, apart from his political activism, he has been constantly complaining to the government authorities against the stone quarries operating illegally in Thirumayam area and has been intervening in the courts. He had begun receiving death threats ever since he complained about illegal mining activities by RR Crusher, Punitha Arockya Mary Crusher, Eashwar Enterprises, RR M Sand Unit- 1, and RR M Sand Unit-2 in the area. The permission for the above quarries was obtained on 14.11.2018 and the permission expired on 13.11.2023. However, the quarries continue to operate illegally to this day.
On 04.1.2023 and 31.1.2023 Jagabar Ali complained against stone quarries for illegally extracting minerals. He has also sent complaints to various other government officials, but no action has been initiated by the authorities. He has filed a case in the Madurai High Court Bench (WP (MD).8946/2023) obtained an order on 5.9.2023 to investigate illegal stone quarries. However, till date the district administration failed implemented the High Court’s order.
In his complaints, he had also assessed the loss to the state at approximately Rs. 840 crores due to illegal mining in his district. His relentless efforts brought him into conflict with the mining mafia and complicit officials in the Revenue, Geology and Mining Departments, and law enforcement agencies. He had also given an interview to this effect on the 10th January 2025 which was available online where and he had openly announced a protest to be held on 17th January 2025.
Premediated Murder:
On 17.01.2025, Friday, Jagabar Ali went to offer Namaz (after noon prayer) at Kattubhava mosque and at about at 2.10 PM Jagabar Ali started proceeding from Kattubhava mosque to his hollow block manufacturing site on a two-wheeler vehicle bearing No. TN 55 AM 5234. Enroute at Ramandlaksh Rice Mill, the Driver of Vehicle Bearing No. TN 74 AV 5628 Mr. Kavi Anandan rammed the tipper lorry onto the Jagabar Ali’s vehicle from an opposite direction, Due to which he fell into the road side ditch and sustained several external injuries. The tire marks of the tipper lorry are present on his Abdomen, Right Arm and on both of his legs, ribs were fractured, both kidneys were completely shattered, the urinary bladder was torn resulting his death due to multi organ injuries.[1] The accused tried to cover the pre medicated murder done in a cold blood in a gruesome manner by staging it as an accident.[2]
The Thirumayam police have register a First Information Report (FIR) in Crime No. 9/2025 on 18.01.2024 after 24 hours of grewsome murder and registered the case under section 194(1) (Unnatural death) of BNS, 2023. Despite the oral and written complaints to the Thirumayam police by the wife of the Jagabar Ali, the police were reluctant to register an FIR and insisted to categorize the incident as a road accident. The body of Jagabar Ali has been kept at Thirumayam Government Hospital where there are no freezer facilities in the mortuary to preserve the bodies. The family of Jagabar Ali had to arrange a freezer box at their own expense to preserve his body. The postmortem was conducted at Thirumayam Government Hospital without forensic experts after 4:00 PM on 18.01.2025 by an orthopaedics doctor, with the assistance of a pharmacy staff. The Postmortem was conducted without following forensic protocols and guidelines issues the Hon’ble Madras High Court in Arun Swaminathan v. The Principal Secretary W.P.(MD) No. 78 of 2019.
The Family members of the Jagabar Ali had approached police and Thirumayam hospital authorities seeking the post mortem report. After the delay of 10 days, on 26.01.2025 the family was provided the post mortem report which failed to establish the exact cause and complete nature of the injuries sustained by Jagabar Ali. Human Rights Defenders’ Alert – India approached the Hon’ble Madurai Bench of Madras High Court representing the family of Jagabar Ali seeking re postmortem along with X-ray and CT scan in order to ascertain the nature of injuries sustained by EHRD. The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on 30.01.2025 passed an order directing Government Medical College Hospital, Pudukkottai to conduct re-postmortem along with X-rays by 31.01.2025.[3] The Re-postmortem has been successfully completed and the report has been submitted to police authorities on 31.01.2025.[4]
The Family members of the Jagabar Ali are facing significant threats, they have also filed a Witness Protection Application on 27.01.2025 seeking protection victim and witness protection. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had transferred the investigation to the CBCID and Currently CBCID is investigating the murder case.[5] The Thirumayam police inspector Gunasekran has been suspended by the Deputy Inspector – General of Police Trichi Range V. Varun Kumar.[6]
Jagabar Ali was fulfilling one of his fundamental duties enshrined in Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution, which is to protect and improve the natural environment. The right to a clean environment is an integral part of the right to life and is one of the basic elements to ensure a welfare state, as stated in the Directive Principles of State Policy. When the state turns a blind eye to protecting its resources, activists like Jagabar Ali expose the issues through documentation and public interest litigation. It is tragic to see the fate of such defenders who meet unfortunate ends and are not laid to rest peacefully even in death. The state failed to protect the defender and failed to investigate the case properly. Consequently, the case had to be transferred to the CB-CID, and a re-postmortem was conducted. The state has yet to recognize Jagabar Ali’s work, grant compensation and protection to his family, and take action against illegal mining affecting the environment.
The author is an Advocate and legal researcher
[1] Tamil Nadu activist Jagabar Ali murder: Four arrested in illegal mining expose case – Tamil Nadu News | India Today
[2] https://hrdaindia.org/government-conspiracy-with-quarry-mafias-endless-killings-of-environmental-rights-defenders-raise-in-tamilnadu–preliminary-fact-finding-report
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/hc-orders-exhumation-of-activists-body-for-examination/articleshow/117754480.cms
[4] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Jan/31/activist-jagaber-alis-body-to-be-exhumed-on-january-31
[5] Thirumayam activist murder case transferred to CB-CID – The Hindu
[6] Activist Jagaber Ali murder case: Thirumayam Inspector placed under suspension – The Hindu
