Commission for SCs starts probe into May 22 violence

The three-day enquiry began in the West Zone office building of the Corporation in Thoothukudi on Thursday.

Among those killed in the incident, four belonged to the Scheduled Caste. The grief-stricken families of the dead, including those of Selvasekar, Kandhaiya and Kaliappan of Thoothukudi and Jeyaraman of Madurai, cooperated with the officials, sources told DT Next.

He told newspersons the Centre had sent him to Thoothukudi on behalf of the NCSC to conduct the enquiry.

Further, he said inquiries would also be held with former Collector N Venkatesh, former Superintendent of Police P Mahendran and other senior officials on Friday and that of the current officials including Collector Sandeep Nanduri, Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha and officials from the Revenue department will be held on Saturday.

Those willing to state their opinions can also submit petitions to the Commission.

The final report of the enquiry would be submitted to President Ram Nath Kovind, the vice chairman said. Nanduri told reporters that apart from families of the deceased, families of the injured, who belong to the SC community, can also place their views before the Commission.

Meanwhile, he said, in the wake of sulphuric acid leak incident inside the Sterlite plant, a committee comprising senior executives, officials, technical experts and two professors conducted a two-day thorough inspection five days ago. Based on their report to the government and its instructions, the District Administration would take appropriate action.

In the aftermath of the riot, a five-member National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team conducted enquiries with the families of deceased victims, injured, police men and revenue officials.

Moreover, the State Government also appointed a one-member enquiry commission headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, a retired judge, who on June 4, assured a fair probe into the incident.

Affidavits from witnesses were being submitted at a temporary camp office in the old circuit house building on Beach road in Thoothukudi and also at the main office at NCB-28, Kumarasamy Raja Salai in Chennai till June 30, sources said.