Thoothukudi Firing: Petition to register case against top officials

When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, a division bench, comprising of justices Muralidharan and Krishnavalli, directed the state government to file a counter in the case and adjourned the hearing to Friday.

Petitioner Muthu Amuthanathan, general secretary, All India Advocates Union, in his petition claimed that due to the pollution caused by the Sterlite copper unit many residents of Thoothukudi were affected by cancer. So, they demanded the closure of the unit and staged protests pressing their demand.

On May 22, the 100th day of protest, police opened fire at rallies, which were held at many places against Sterlite Copper, in which as many as 13 persons were killed. Further over 150 protesters were injured in the police action. More than 50 of them were still undergoing treatment in the Thoothukudi GH.

As a tense situation prevailed post police firing, internet services were suspended and Thoothukudi was completely cut off from rest of the country.

As far as firing was concerned, there was no appropriate order issued and so a murder case should be registered against State Chief Secretary, DGP, Tirunelvlei DIG, Thoothukudi SP, Thoothukudi Collector and Inspector at Thoothukudi SIPCOT, prayed the petitioner.

Another petition with a similar prayer was also filed at Madurai Bench of Madras High Court. Petitioner Kandakumar from Thoothukudi, in his petition, had stated that a committee under a retired High Court judge should be appointed to investigate the police firing and Rs 50 lakh should be given as compensation to the kin of deceased and Rs 10 lakh for the injured.

After hearing both the petitions, the division bench directed the state government to file its counter.