10 killed as cops fire on anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin

TUTICORIN: The movement for the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant turned bloody on the 100th day of the agitation as 10 people, including two women, were killed when police opened fire on rampaging protesters in Tuticorin on Tuesday.

Eight people died in police firing at the collectorate in the afternoon when protesters turned violent, while one person was killed in firing at Therespuram locality in the city in the evening. Karthik, 20, a college student, died in a hospital late in the evening. Around 65 people were injured, many of them critically, in the violence.

Thousands of protesters had gathered on Tuesday to mark the 100th day of the agitation that began at Kumarattiyapuram village on the outskirts of the city on February 12. NGOs had rallied people demanding the closure of the copper smelting unit which they said was polluting the environment and causing ailments in the neighbourhood. With the TN Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) not renewing its licence, the smelter has remained closed since March.

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami has ordered an inquiry by a retired high court judge into events that led to the deaths. Governor Banwarilal Purohit, in a separate statement, while condoling the deaths, placed the toll at 11.

The CM announced Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the kin of those killed in police firing. While those seriously injured will get Rs 3 lakh, people with minor injuries will get Rs 1 lakh. The CM also promised government jobs to one member of the families of those killed in the firing.

In a statement issued late in the evening, Sterlite Copper said: “It is with great sorrow and regret that we witnessed today’s incidents around the protest at Tuticorin. The company has appealed to the government and authorities to ensure the safety of our employees, facilities and the surrounding community. The Sterlite Copper plant is currently non-operational as we await approval for the consent to operate.”

Preparations for picketing the collectorate on May 22 were in full swing when the district administration and police granted permission only for staging a protest at the SAV School ground on that day. This was turned down by a majority of the protesters, following which the collector clamped regulatory orders under Section 144 of CrPC.

Around 1,500 police personnel from Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Dindigul districts were deployed for maintaining.

On Tuesday, the protest began around 8.30am near Our Lady of Snows Church close to the city’s old harbor, and the protesters marched towards the collectorate. Police tried to stop them at several points, but in vain.

Vastly outnumbered by the protesters, the police personnel fled. As the crowd reached the collectorate, they went on the rampage, damaging and setting ablaze nearly 50 two-wheelers and a dozen four-wheelers. They attacked the collectorate building and the police personnel posted there, leaving a few cops injured. At this point, police retaliated by firing at the mob. Police officers refused to confirm who ordered the firing.

Cops chased down fleeing protesters, beat them up and secured hundreds of them, including those attached to radical outfits.

Angered by the firing that left eight protesters dead, the public blocked the vehicle of Tuticorin district superintendent of police P Mahendran. This was when police fired at the crowd that claimed the life of one Vinitha. As the situation went out of control, police strength was increased to around 2,500 later in the day.

There was palpable tension the city and the district, with security being beefed up. The bodies of the dead are yet to be handed over to the families. The condition of some of those injured is stated to be critical.

The ruling AIADMK, which came in for much flak from opposition parties for the police action, maintained that the firing was warranted as the protesters, despite Section 144 CrPC being in force, went ahead with the march and indulged in violence.