Anti-Sterlite protests: Government, opposition trade charges over violence that left 13 dead

NEW DELHI: Tension prevailed in Thoothukudi for the third day after clashes between police personnel and protesters left 13 dead, even as the government and the opposition traded charges over who was to blame for the large-scale violence witnessed on the 100th day of the anti-Sterlite stir.

Terming the incident "unfortunate," chief minister E Palaniswami accused rival political parties of "instigating" violence, claiming that some anti-social elements had infiltrated the agitation and unleashed violence.

"This time around, it (protest) turned violent. It was due to instigation by some political parties and owing to infiltration by anti-social elements," Palaniswami told reporters outside the Secretariat.

In a series of tweets, the AIADMK leader defended police action and denied the firing carried out during the May 22 protests was premeditated.

"Under tense situation, police resorted to firing and the firing was not pre-plannned," he said.



He went on to say that the government would continue to take steps for closure of the Sterlite copper smelter against which the locals have been protesting and said power supply to the plant was snapped on Thursday.

Meanwhile, DMK working president M K Stalin was taken in police custody after holding a sit-in protest at Fort St George complex. Cases were filed against Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko, and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan for defying prohibitory orders on Wednesday to visit a hospital in Thoothukudi where those injured in the clashes were convalescing.

MK Stalin being detained by police personnel after staging a sit-in protest with DMK MLAs (PTI photo)

Opposition parties, including the Congress, called for a 'Tamil Nadu bandh' on Friday and sought the resignation of Palaniswami and sacking of DGP T K Rajendran for the bloodbath that brought the city down to its knees.

DMK leader Kanimozhi accused the Modi-led NDA at the Centre of remote-controlling the AIADMK regime and alleged that the Sterlite factory was able to thrive because of the support it received from the central and state governments.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over the incident, which he described as a "deadly cocktail of central government complicity, police brutality, state government's apathy and corporate ruthlessness".

Police in anti-riot gear patrolled the streets of Thoothukudi as prohibitory orders banning assembly of more than four people continued to be in force.

The government on Wednesday had ordered suspension of internet services in Thoothukudi and adjoining districts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari for five days to prevent spread of rumours through social media and help restore peace.

Normal life continued to be affected for the third consecutive day as modes of public transport including buses, and autos did not ply. Most shops remained closed.

Amid widespread criticism of the police firing and the opposition’s demand for action, the Tuticorin collector and the SP were transferred on Wednesday evening.

At least 13 people were killed in police firing in Thoothukudi after protests for the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite copper factory over pollution concerns turned violent since Tuesday. The residents of the area were protesting against the proposed doubling of the copper plant capacity for the last three months.

(With inputs from Agencies)