Sterlite issue: protesters block national highway

Anti-Sterlite protesters from 10 hamlets on Monday blocked the four-lane Thoothukudi–Palayamkottai National Highway, bringing vehicular traffic to a grinding halt for more than two hours. The villagers demanded permanent closure of the copper manufacturing factory.

The agitation was withdrawn only after Collector N. Venkatesh and Superintendent of Police P. Mahendran assured the protesters that their sentiments and demands would be conveyed to the State Government. The agitation against Sterlite Copper that began in villages shifted to the Collectorate on Monday, when the Collector received petitions at the weekly grievance redressal meet.

Around 1,000 villagers came to the Collectorate with the sole demand of closure of Sterlite Copper, police threw a cordon around the crowd and asked them to send their representatives to submit petitions to the Collector.

Even as the representatives went inside, others blocked the Thoothukudi–Palayamkottai National Highway around 11.45 a.m.. They demanded that the Collector came out and met them. Traffic on the arterial road was completely paralysed and led to a build up. Later, the vehicles were diverted via Sorispuram, Madaththur and Bypass Road.