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Sterlite violence: Videos expose cops’ brutality
The videos has put the police and the state government on the back foot, as allegations have already surfaced charging the authorities of acting in way that suggested a plan behind the madness.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
At least one of them should die, firing policeman told
Raising serious questions about the conduct of the armed police personnel who were deployed when the protest against Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi turned restive, a video clip that shows the policemen taking aim and shooting at the protesters has one of them asking his colleagues to ensure that at least one of the protesters should be killed in firing.
This is sure to put the police and the state government on the back foot, as allegations have already surfaced charging the authorities of acting in way that suggested a plan behind the madness.
“At least one of them should die,” says a voice in the background, even as commandos are seen standing atop a police van, firing at protesters. It is not yet known who among the dozens of personnel made the comment. But to the agitators and activists who have been left shocked by the unexpected turn of events that has resulted in 12 deaths at last count, this revealed that there clearly was an intent on the part of the force.
The clip had surfaced on Tuesday itself, but the attention of the public and the media was on the visual - police personnel are seen taking aim and firing at the people using a rifle.
A day later, however, the video began circulating again, this time highlighting the comment, which, when seen in the backdrop of the unprecedented incident, highlighted the remorselessness with which the policemen acted – if not exposing their vindictiveness.
Stop acting and leave: Police instruct ‘dead’ man
Police officers dragging the leg of Kaliappan, who they shot dead, to check if he is alive on Wednesday
The scene was terrifying: a young man lying on the road, ostensibly unconscious. But a group of policemen surrounding him is not willing to take this on face value. They prod his body, and one of the personnel asks him to stop acting and leave the place. The youth, Kaliappan, reportedly fell unconscious after being hit by a rubber bullet. Protesters alleged that he became the 12th victim since Tuesday after a team of personnel beat him mercilessly.
The video from Anna Nagar in Thoothukudi shows over a dozen personnel, clad in riot control gear, standing around a man lying on the road. Stop acting, one of them is heard saying to the man, clearly not convinced that he suffered any injuries. To be clear, there are no visible injuries on the body, at least in the position that he was lying.
Another policeman is seen lifting Kaliappan’s leg and dropping it, as if to prove that it was all an act. But when he let go of the leg, it fell and hit the ground, clearly indicating that the man was unconscious if not dead.
Later, doctors at the government hospital here declared him dead. Kaliappan was the victim number 12, joining the list of protesters who were killed in firing on Tuesday.
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