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Amid charges of harassment by cops, civil society on fact-finding mission
A week after police opened fire on anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi killing 13 people, residents continue to suffer at the hands of police, said local activists.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
The residents alleged that oppression by police continues even today. “The harassment of the residents in Thoothukudi continues as the police are hounding the victims’ families not to speak up.
After the visit of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other officials, the people have been left to manage on their own,” said Henri Tiphagne of People’s Watch. Meanwhile, a citizen-led, fact-finding mission is being undertaken by a committee comprising members of the civil society and experts, following which a public inquest will be held on June 2 and 3 in Thoothukudi.
The Coordinating Committee for the People’s Inquest into the Thoothukudi Police Firing, convened by advocate AWD Tilak, head of the Thoothukudi Bar Association, includes business people, farmers and fisherfolk. The focus of the mission is to fix accountability on those behind the sanctioning of the police firing, followed by illegal detentions and violence on protesters by police.
“The mission has already started as a 35-member committee of people from Thoothukudi has begun work,” said Tilak. Following the mission, a people’s inquest will be held on June 2 and 3. It will be conducted by a national panel comprising retired members of the judiciary, police and administration, in addition to lawyers, academicians and journalists.
“People can depose before the members of the panel,” said Tilak. The aim of the inquest is to ascertain facts that led to the protests in Thoothukudi and the circumstances that led to the police firing. It would be done by gathering statements from eyewitnesses, families of the deceased and injured, representatives of the anti-Sterlite protest committee and officials from the district administration and police.
There will also be an inquiry on who authorised the firing and under what circumstances. The team will also gather information on the action taken by the state government, district administration and the police department to avert the firing.
A compilation and analysis of the available documents, evidence from government departments, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, petitions, affidavits, evidences and judgments in the High Court and Supreme Court regarding the firing and the Sterlite plant will be made to suggest legal remedies and means to fix accountability on the various actors.
NHRC to send its own team for investigation
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday directed its director general (investigation) to depute a team headed by a senior superintendent of police and comprising three deputy superintendents of police and inspectors for a fact-finding investigation into the Thoothukudi police firing. The team has been asked to submit a report in two weeks’ time. The NHRC team would leave forthwith and examine all the stakeholders, including family members of the victims and independent witnesses, as it deems appropriate. The Commission has given the direction after considering a representation made by A Rajarajan before the Delhi High Court and the orders of the Court passed on May 25.
Closure of Sterlite just drama, says CPI leader
CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said here on Tuesday that the state government has been enacting a drama on the Thoothukudi firing issue and that the government always supported the Sterlite factory. Speaking to the media, Mutharasan said the firing at Thoothukudi was a warning to those who protest for a public cause. The announcements on the factory made by officials and ministers were contradictory and the announcement of closure of the unit was just a drama enacted by the state government. “A deputy tahsildhar can’t give firing order without consulting his superior. So, an inquiry commission led by a serving judge should be appointed,” he said.
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