Sterlite Protest: 11 killed in police firing

Though sources in Thoothukudi said 11 people were killed in the police firing,  Chief Minister Edappadi  K Palaniswami late in the afternoon said nine people had died in “police action.” Reports also claimed many, including policemen, were injured in clashes. Governor Banwarilal Purohit condoled the deaths. 

Eight people died on the spot. They were identified as Tamilarasan (28), member of Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF), Jeyaraman (62), member of Makkal Adigaram from Usilampatti, Shanmugam (40), Klastan (40), Kandiah (55) Antonyraj (35) and Maniraj (34). 

College student Karthik Jayaseelan (22) who sustained bullet injuries, died later. In the firing three women also died. One of them was identified as Vinitha (29) the other Snowlin (17). Another woman was yet to be identified. Police recovered their bodies and sent them to Thoothukudi GH. 

“The police had to take action under unavoidable circumstances to protect public life and property as the protestors resorted to repeated violence... police had to control the violence,” Palaniswami, who holds the Home portfolio, said. 

Reinforcements have been rushed from neighbouring districts to Thoothukudi to assist the local administration in restoring normalcy. 

An official release said about 20,000 people took out a procession towards the Collectorate and the copper plant, demanding its permanent closure. 

Meanwhile, Vedanta Ltd, Sterlite Coppr issued a statement, saying, “It is with great sorrow and regret that we witnessed today’s incidents around the protest at Thoothukudi. 

The company has appealed to the government and authorities to ensure the safety of our employees, facilities and the surrounding community. The Sterlite Copper plant is currenly non-operatioal as we await approval for the Consent to Operate.” 

Explaining the State’s stand on Sterlite and Tuesday’s firing on protesters, Finance Minister D Jayakumar asserted that the state worked for the people and not the Sterlite factory. Jayakumar termed the protest as unwarranted considering the state’s consistent stand that Sterlite was not wanted in the state. 

As reports emerged of police firing from atop their vehicles with assault rifles, the Minister was asked to explain who had given the orders for firing and whether such orders emanated from the Secretariat or from the District headquarters itself. Jayakumar ducked the question saying a ‘one-man commission of inquiry’ has been ordered into the incident by the Chief Minister.