Greens condemn cyberattack against N Badusha for moving SC against Wayanad tunnel road

Kozhikode: Environmental groups have condemned the cyberattack and threats against N Badusha, president of Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi (WPSS), for approaching Supreme Court seeking a stay on the construction of Anakkampoyil-Meppadi-Kalladi tunnel road.Badusha came under attack on social media after WPSS submitted a petition in Supreme Court demanding revoking the environmental clearance accorded to the project by Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, citing that the tunnel road cuts through ecologically fragile and landslide-prone stretches of the Western Ghats. The groups alleged that there have been calls in social media under the banner of a group named Wayanad Collective to stage a march to Badusha's residence on Sunday afternoon. In a statement, Western Ghats Protection Council expressed support to WPSS and alleged that those issuing threats on social media were acting as agents of quarry, timber, resort owners and real estate members. Varghese Vattekkattil, an office bearer of the council, said in a statement that those who are issuing threats on social media should understand that WPSS had approached the apex court exercising the legal rights available to citizens under the Indian judicial system. WPSS secretary Thomas Ambalavayal said environmentalists in Wayanad and elsewhere, along with democratic-minded citizens, would resist attempts to personally target Badusha, who has been working for decades to protect the fragile ecology of the hill district.