6 held for violence in anti-Sterlite stir detained under National Security Act

Six persons suspected to be associated with the ‘Makkal Adigaram’ outfit and allegedly involved in the violence at Thoothukudi during the anti-Sterlite protest on May 22, were detained under the National Security Act on Sunday.

The anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi on May 22 witnessed largescale violence during which several vehicles, including police vans, were torched and stoned.

The Thoothukudi Collector’s office was ransacked by protesters and the nearby residential quarters of Sterlite copper were also attacked.

Based on CCTV footage of the incident, police started arresting the protesters in large numbers. As many as 200 persons were arrested in connection with the incident. Many more were also secured in the follow up action.

Police had arrested Kaleel Rahuman, Mohammed Isharat and Mohammed Younis from Melapalayam in Tirunelveli, Saravanan from Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, Kottaiyan from Usilampatti in Madurai, and Velmurugan from Kadaiyanallur in Tirunelveli district, in connection with the violence and lodged them in Palayamkottai central prison.

On Sunday, Thoothukudi SIPCOT police detained all the six under National Security Act (NSA) on charges of criminal conspiracy and acting against the interests of the country. Police sources said that all of them were suspected to be have links with Makkal Adigaram.

‘Compensation distributed’ Meanwhile, Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri on Monday told newspersons that Rs 20 lakh compensation were given to all the 13 deceased and out of 43 seriously injured persons in the police firing, 39 were given a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each.

Also, a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh each was given to 25 of the 74 persons, who sustained minor injuries.