Express News Service
THOOTHUKUDI: Four of the protesters shot dead by police at Thoothukudi on Tuesday were prominent leaders of anti-Sterlite protests. With all four said to have been shot at in the head or chest, there is suspicion whether they were specifically targeted.Tamilarasan, coordinator of anti-Sterlite movement, Snowlin, coordinator of the protest at Madha Koil, Maniraj, coordinator of Damodar Nagar and Gladston, coordinator of Metupatti, were among those killed in police firing.
The protesters say what makes them suspect the turn of incidents was that both Tamilarasan and Snowlin were well away from the eyes of the shooters, but gestured by a few officials asking them to come inside the Collector office apparently for talks. Thinking that the officials wanted to discuss the tense situation, both of them are said to have moved ahead when they were killed by the bullets that supposedly came from a higher altitude.
The police or revenue officials were not available for their comment on the allegations. But, the protesters strongly believe it can’t be just a coincidence that these four people were killed in the firing and the ultimate objective could be to make the anti-Sterlite protests a leaderless one or instill fear in the next rung of leaders.But did the movement had any leaders? While anti-Sterlite movement protesters brush aside this question, DMK MLA Geetha Jeevan opines the elusive leadership had made it difficult for the administration to negotiate with the protesters. “Had there been a leader, such a situation could be resolved,” she said.
The two-days of police opening fire at the protesters has definitely succeeded in instilling a sense of fear among the prtesters. Many of them refused to be named in the newspaper reports. One of Snowlin’s aide alleges that cops used 7.2mm bullet and it was fired from quite a distance. He named the Assistant Superintendent of Police Selvanagarathinam and said the officer was trying to create trouble during the protests. Selvanagarathinam could not be reached by Express on Wednesday despite several attempts.
Anthonysami, who survived the attempt on his life during the protest at Collectorate office as the bullet brushed his arm, says that he ran to safety. Rather than going to hospital, he is taking treatment at his house.Most of the protesters who had joined the protest had lost a close relative due to cancer which is blamed on Sterlite.Mahupa, who is facing wheezing problem, blames Sterlite. She says cancer and breathing-related problems are on rise due to Sterlite. “ We lost many of our relatives,” she says. While the leadership may have been eliminated, the protest will continue till Sterlite is shut, said a protester on condition of anonymity.
A call to death trap
Tamilarasan, coordinator of anti-Sterlite movement, coordinators Snowlin, Maniraj, and Gladston were among those killed in firing. The protesters say what makes them suspect the turn of incidents was that both Tamilarasan and Snowlin were well away from the eyes of the shooters, but gestured by a few officials asking them to come inside the Collector office apparently for talks. Thinking that the officials wanted to discuss the tense situation, both of them are said to have moved ahead when they were killed by the bullets that supposedly came from a higher altitude
EPS, OPS brief Guv
ChennaI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday called on Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhavan and briefed him about the situation in Thoothukudi district in the past two days and what led to the police firing on Tuesday. The meeting lasted about 25 minutes. The Governor is likely to send a report in this regard to the Central government in a day or two. The Governor, who was camping at Udhagamandalam for many programmes, cancelled his engagements following the loss of lives in firing at Thoothukudi and returned to Chennai on Wednesday. Just after his arrival, EPS-OPS met him.
Vedanta regrets
Chennai: The Vedanta group has expressed its regret for the way things came to a pass in Thoothukudi on May 22. “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,” said a release from the conglomerate on Tuesday.
