Firing in Thoothukudi sparks protests in Coimbatore

Members of the CPI, CPI (M) farmers and lawyers staged protests in various parts of the city on Wednesday against the police firing in Thoothukudi.

Former MP P.R. Natarajan, former MLAs M. Arumugham and K.C. Karunakaran demanded permanent closure of the Sterlite industry. Members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi staged a demonstration near the Coimbatore South Taluk office. Makkal Adigaram members staged a protest near the Power House in Tatabad.

Sources said that farmer-members of the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association (non-partisan) raised slogans near the farmers’ market in Singanallur. Lawyers and members of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties demanded the resignation of the State Government and registration of murder case against police officers for ordering the firing and personnel who fired at the protesters. Social Democratic Party of India also staged a protest.

On May 25, the DMK had called for a protest near the Red Cross Junction.

Around 100 members of various parties, who united under the banner of Tamil Nadu Makkal Medai, staged a protest at the bus stand in Udhagamandalam.

Tirupur Staff Reporter adds:

In Tirupur, journalists staged a demonstration at Udumalpet on Wednesday to protest against the assault on mediapersons at Thoothukudi on Tuesday. The reporters and photojournalists, who participated in the agitation, demanded action against the people who assaulted photo journalists including The Hindu's photojournalist N. Rajesh, for photographing and video graphing violence near Thoothukudi Collectorate.

CPI (M), CPI, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Aathithamihar Peravai, among others, also staged agitations at various places across the district condemning the police firing.