Don’t torture Sterlite protesters: HC slams Thoothukudi authorities

According to the petitioner, the people of Thoothukudi have been peacefully protesting against Vedanta group’s Sterlite Copper unit since February 2018. However, on May 22, the police opened indiscriminate fire on the crowd, killing 13 people and leaving more than 200 people injured. A few days ago, Thoothukudi Sub-Collector summoned several people, including 22 named in the petition to appear before him under Section 107 of the IPC. They had all been active participants of the stir.

Since respondents, including the Sub-Collector, were harassing people holding democratic protests, the petitioner sought thebench to pass interim injunction restraining respondents from harassing them till pending disposal of this writ petition.

After hearing the petition, the bench appealed to authorities in Thoothukudi to stop taking action which were cited ‘unlawful’.

“Protest is everybody’s right. While it was a policy decision of the government to close down Sterlite, why should people with the same thoughts be subjected to torture?” the bench said. Moreover, the bench asked whether the government’s aim was to protect people or torture them? The case was adjourned till further notice.