Newly-wed couple turn up at anti-Sterlite protest venue

THOOTHUKUDI

The protest venue on the premises of Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Snows here on Monday had a newly-wed couple in the midst of the members of Anti-Sterlite Movement.

The unusual participation of a couple in the protest minutes after their marriage surprised many. The couple got married at Sacred Heart Cathedral here and in response to a request from a few protesters, they spent sometime at the protest venue.

However, no protesters were allowed on the Collectorate premises since the district administration has invoked Section 144 of the Cr.P.C in Thoothukudi on account of the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Veeran Sundaralingam.

The prohibitory orders had been clamped between 6 p.m. on April 15 and 6 a.m. on April 17. Barricades were put up at the Collectorate entrance. Police personnel have been deployed in parts of the district.

Superintendent of Police P. Mahendran said protests against Sterlite had been going on at 16 locations and so far 27 cases had been booked against the protesters on various charges, including blocking roads and damaging a bus that caused injuries to two persons.