The death toll in the anti-Sterlite protests in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin has risen to 13 and more than 70 people who were injured in the clashes with police are undergoing treatment.
While commercial establishments have remained shut in Thoothukudi – the epicentre of the unrest, internet services too have remained temporarily shut since 2100hrs of Wednesday. The local administration has said services would remain shut for five days.
Eleven people had been killed in clashes with police on Tuesday. The police allegedly used assault rifles to shoot at the protesters; 11 people had died on Tuesday and many more were injured. Tuticorin’s Superintendent of Police and the District Collector were meanwhile transferred on Wednesday after fresh protests broke out.
The state government has been lambasted for mishandling the situation and for live rounds being fired on protestors. Leaders like Kamal Haasan and Vaiko have since visited the injured people in hospitals. DMK’s MK Stalin also visited the injured and the party announced a statewide bandh for Friday, on Thursday morning.
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