Anti-Sterlite protests in Tuticorin: Tamil Nadu Governor meets CM, Oppn parties call for 'bandh'

Updated May 24, 2018 | 18:16 IST | Times Now Digital

The protestors were demanding the Vedanta Group-run company to shut in the city. This was the first case of police firing in Tamil Nadu on protestors where people have died. The police used teargas and lathi charged on the crowd as the protests went out of control.

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Protestors burn bus outside hospital  |  Photo Credit: ANI

Tuticorin: The Madras High Court's Madras bench on Wednesday a stay on the on-going construction of a new copper smelter by the Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi where 11 people were killed yesterday in the police firing during protests against the construction of the new copper smelter. The security in Tuticorin has tightened after the violent protests. Section 144 has been imposed in the city.  

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Secretary H Raja justified the shooting in Tuticorin. He said it was needed as the protest had turned into a riot. Eleven people, including a girl, have died yesterday after the anti-Sterlite protest turned violent. Around thousands of people took to streets in Tuticorin who allegedly attacked District Collectorate.

Updates: 

10:40 pm: Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit met Chief Minister Paliniswami to discuss the Tuticorin issue on Wednesday. Meanwhile, opposition parties have called for a state-wide bandh against the Tamil Nadu government over the police firing that allegedly killed 13 people. The parties have reportedly decided to stage the bandh on May 25. 

10:30 pm:  Adding insult to the injury, several senior ministers of the EK Paliniswami government were seen attending a private gala in Chennai on Wednesday. However, not a single minister of the EPS cabinet has till now visited the victims admitted in the hospitals after getting injured in the Tuticorin police firing, reports said. 

9:45 pm: Collector N Venkatesh has been replaced by the Collector of neighbouring Tirunelveli Sandeep Nanduri, while Nilgiris district police chief Murali Rambha will take over from SP P Mahendran, PTI reported. 

8:30 pm: Thiru P Mahendran, Superintendent of Police Thoothukudi and N Venkatesh, Collector of Thoothukudi have been transferred, news agency ANI reported. The move comes after the government faced flak from the opposition for the 'mishandling' of the situation in Tuticorin. Death toll in the Tuticorin violence rose to 13 on Wednesday, reports said. 

7:30 pm:  As the situation continues to remain tense in Tuticorin, reports said that Tamil Nadu chief minister EK Paliniswami is expected to meet state governor Banwarilal Purohit at 9 pm today to apprise him of the situation. The CM will also enumerate the measures taken by the government to restore law and order in the state during his meeting with the governor. 

6:15 pm:  DMK's Kanimozhi slammed the state government for mishandling the situation in Tuticorin. Speaking to Times Now, the opposition leader said, "There is a complete breakdown of government machinery in Tuticorin. We cannot understand what is happening, we can't understand if the state government is even there or not." 

6:00 pm:  A video accessed by Times Now shows Tamil Nadu police officers allegedly threatening and intimidating a journalist for recording their attempts to disperse a crowd. Reports suggested that a few state government officials had even called up a few local news channels yesterday asking them to not air visuals of the Tuticorin protests. In a few places in Tuticorin, internet services have been suspended, reports said. 

5:45 pm: Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad lashed out the at the state government and the police for the 'massacre' of people in Tuticorin. Speaking to reporters, Azad said, "State govt and police must be held responsible for this massacre of common people, they should've been more alert. Since they had less force they had to resort to other ways for controlling crowds, they knew it was going on for 3 months."

 

 

5:15 pm: Even as political blame game began over the Tuticorin violence, the BJP on Wednesday slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for "trying to milk the Tuticorin tragedy for politics". The saffron party said that Gandhi blamed the RSS "for everything" and that he was not aware that law and order was the responsibility of the state government. 

4:15 pm: Madras High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Tamil Nadu government after police firing at protestors yesterday claimed the lives of at least 12 people. The High Court has reportedly ordered the state government to 'preserve the bodies' of the victims. The court is expected to later decide if the second post-mortem of the bodies needs to take place. 

3:45 pm: DMK Working President MK Stalin meets people who were injured in Sterlite Protest yesterday, at General Hospital in Thoothukudi.

3:00 pm:  One person dead, 3 injured in fresh violence at Anna Nagar in Thoothukudi. The death toll has mounted to 11 after yesterday's firing incident.

2:30 pm: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) today has called for an all-party protest over the police firing that killed 11 people yesterday. The CPI(M) has staged protests in Coimbatore against the killings. Acting president MK Stalin tweeted today, "Where does the final accountability lie for the brutal murder of at least 11 Tamils? Will @CMOTamilNadu take action against DGP for failing to maintain law and order? Will Chief Secretary explain her role in this entire episode? Will there be justice for #SterliteProtest ? (sic)" 

1:30 pm: Fresh protests are reported from outside Tuticorin Hospital. A bus has been set on fire and the police is trying to control the outraged crowd. 

12: 55 pm: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issues notice to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and Director general of police (DGP) over police firing during anti-sterlite protest in #Thoothukudi that claimed 11 lives, seeks report within two weeks.

12:33 pm: The CEO of the Sterlite Copper said that its factory is not operational as it is awaiting approval from the authorities to resume the operations. "The Sterlite Copper plant is currently non-operational as we await approval for the consent to operate," said the statement. 

12:27 pm: CPI(M) hold a protest in Coimbatore against the death of 11 people in the anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi yesterday. 

12:15 pm: Tamil Nadu government led by K Palaniswami has ordered a judicial probe in the violence that occurred yesterday, killing 11 people. Retired HC Judge Aruna Jagadeesan to probe Thoothukudi firing incident. 

12:09 pm: We must know who ordered this firing. It is not me but the victims who are demanding this. Merely announcing compensation isn't a solution. This industry must be shut & this is what people demand: Kamal Haasan after meeting people who were injured in Sterlite Protest yesterday. 

11:59 am: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan meets people who were injured in Sterlite Protest yesterday, at General Hospital in Thoothukudi; family of victims say, 'we are facing difficulties due to your visit. Please leave from here'. Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan meets people who were injured in Sterlite Protest yesterday, at General Hospital in Thoothukudi. Meanwhile, reports suggested that Haasan has been boked for violation of Section 144 in the area. 

11:40 am: Police present outside General Hospital in Thoothukudi as Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan will arrive here shortly.

"42 people have been admitted to our hospital till now, few transferred to Tirunelveli medical college to reduce congestion. 10 bodies are in the mortuary here. 17 surgeries have been done," said Dr A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education.

"What happened in Tuticorin is a cold-blooded murder by police. They should be booked for murder & SP, Collector, DGP & Chief Secretary should be suspended. Taking moral responsibility, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami should resign," said Anbumani Ramadoss, Pattali Makkal Katchi. 

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan arrives at General Hospital in Thoothukudi to meet people who were injured in SterliteProtest yesterday

11:35 am: Central govt needs to give a decision by September on whether an expansion of Sterlite plant should take place. Until that decision is made Vedanta cannot expand. A fresh petition must be sent by Vedanta to Central govt for environmental clearance.

11:30 am: The Madras High Court directs Vedanta to stop the construction of the second unit of Vedanta-owned Sterlite copper smelter plant in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu where 11 people died on Tuesday due to a clash between police and protesters demanding the closure of the plant.

11:00 am: The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on the violence in Tuticorin. The Tamil Nadu government has also called for a judicial probe into the police firing in Toothukudi on Tuesday which left 11 people dead. A retired judge will conduct the inquiry. 

10:50 am: Prakash Raj tweets, "KILLING of CITIZENS protesting .. SHAME on Tamilnadu s Visionless .. spineless government.. couldn’t you hear people’s cry of protest.. couldn’t you foresee citizens anguish over pollution concerns OR are you busy dancing to CENTER s tunes to hold on to power .. #justasking."

The family of deceased person stage protest in Tuticorin and refused to take the bodies.

10:40 am: This incident reminds us of how Jallianwala Bagh would have taken place, says Vaiko, General Secretary of MDMK. Congress president Rahul Gandhi reacted to the Tuticorin protest and said that Tamilians are murdered. Last night, he tweeted, "The gunning down by the police of 9 people in the Sterlite Protest in Tamil Nadu, is a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured."

10:15 am: Two senior IAS officers have been deputed by the Tamil Nadu government to probe the incidents of firing in Tuticorin. The Madras High Court will shortly hear the case and deliver an interim order. 

9:55 am: Makkal Needhi Maiam Chief Kamal Haasan to visit Thoothukudi first, where 11 people were killed yesterday in police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. He will then come to Bengaluru in the second half. Karnataka CM-designate HD Kumaraswamy will take oath in Bengaluru at 4:30 pm on Wednesday.

9:45 am: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko met those injured during protests against Sterlite industries. Eleven people were killed yesterday in police firing. 

9:30 am: Madras High Court's Madurai bench to today delivers an interim order on the ongoing construction of a new copper smelter by Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi. 


The protestors were demanding the Vedanta Group-run company to shut in the city. This was the first case of police firing in Tamil Nadu on protestors where people have died. The police used teargas and lathi charged on the crowd as the protests went out of control. Later, the police started firing as the agitation grew. Ever since the company announced the expansion, the protest grew strong.

At least 60 people were injured in the clashes, as per news agency IANS. The people who died and identified as Antony Selvaraj, Kandiah, Gladson, Jayaram, Maniraj, Tamilarasan, Shanmugham and Venista. The injured people were moved to hospitals for the treatment as they were in serious conditions. A 16-year-old girl was waiting for a bus when she was hit by a bullet and killed.

The Opposition parties have expressed anguish over the incident and blamed the Tamil Nadu government for the deaths. They have also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister E Palaniswami. 

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