Chennai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has stayed the construction of a new copper smelter by Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi.
The stay has come after 11 people were killed and around 20 were severely injured after the police opened fire multiple times against anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi on Tuesday.
In an official statement released by the Tamil Nadu Government, the government officials have said that “To bring the violence under control, under unavoidable circumstances, police had to take action. To maintain law and order additional police personnel have been sent to Tuticorin.”
Locals have been protesting against the Sterlite plant since last three months alleging the plant for polluting groundwater. According to local reports, around 5000 protesters gathered near a local church and insisted on taking out a rally to the district collector’s office after they were denied permission to march to the copper smelter plant.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Chief Anbumani Ramadoss has asked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to resign over the cold-blooded murder by the police.
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: Anbumani Ramadoss, Pattali Makkal Katchi #Thoothukudi pic.twitter.com/9HRTFBFlxZ
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan also arrived at General Hospital in Thoothukudi to meet people who were injured in the Sterlite Protest yesterday. “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 told media after meeting the victims.
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 #SterliteProtest yesterday pic.twitter.com/43mntezXxH
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Chief Minister Palaniswami has also issued a statement saying “The police had to take action under unavoidable circumstances to protect public life and property as the protesters resorted to repeated violence… police had to control the violence.”
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