Facing severe criticism from various quarters, the State government had constituted the inquiry commission, which has been entrusted with the task of investigating the incident, that left several anti-Sterlite protesters dead.

On May 22, which was the 100th day of protest against the Sterlite copper smelter in Thoothukudi, as many as 13 people lost their lives after police opened fire.

The panel's first phase of the probe started on June 4 and all three probe agencies — CB-CID, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the judicial commission appointed by the state government — camped at Thoothukudi and carried out investigations in various places and questioned people in connection with the police firing incident.

the second phase was conducted from August 9 to August 11. Several documents were examined during the first two phases. During the third phase, kin of the deceased were inquired.