At least 13 people had died and 102 others were reported injured by Thursday in the anti-Sterlite protests in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi as the death toll kept increasing. Further, vehicles worth Rs 10.27 million were damaged and burnt down during the protests.
"A total of 13 people have died, including 11 men and 2 women. 102 people have been injured out of which 19 are severe cases. Vehicles worth Rs 1 crore 27 lakh have been burnt down," said Shailesh Kumar, IG (South Range), while talking to news agencies.
At least 67 people have been arrested until now for indulging in violence and damage to public property.
Hearing a petition filed by a Tamil Nadu based lawyer, the Delhi High Court on Friday left it to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to decide if it wants to conduct an independent probe into the incident.
Here are the top 10 developments around the Thoothukudi protests over the Sterlite expansion issue:
1) NHRC to decide on independent probe into the incident: The Delhi High Court on Friday left it to the NHRC to decide a lawyer's representation for an independent probe into the killing of people in police firing during protests against Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district.
2) SC for urgent listing of matter on May 28: The Supreme Court on Friday asked an advocate, who has filed a petition seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into the deaths of protesters during the anti-Sterlite rally in Tamil Nadu, to mention the matter for urgent listing on Monday 28.
At the outset, a bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra said that the matters seeking urgent listing for hearing be mentioned on May 28.
3) DMK's Kanimozhi detained: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi was detained on Friday after DMK-led opposition parties' held a protest against police firing during the anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi.
While protesting, Kanimozhi told reporters that the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led government has become "bloodthirsty" and the chief minister should be held responsible for the incident.
Vedanta Resources Plc Chairman Anil Agarwal has expressed his sorrow over the anti-Sterlite protests in which 13 people have died. He said that he was in pain over the ongoing protest in Thoothukudi.
"I am very sad to hear the incident. This was absolutely unfortunate, my full sympathy with the family. The plant is closed because of an annual shutdown and we are waiting for clearance from the court and the government to re-start the plant," Agarwal said.
factory, says Tamil Nadu CM: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said it was taking steps to close down the Sterlite factory at Thoothukudi after 13 people died when the police opened fire on protesters who were demanding the factory’s closure.
“Amma's (former CM J Jayalalithaa) government is taking the legal route to ensure that Sterlite is shut down,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
6) Thoothukudi plant not operating since March 27, says Vedanta: Vedanta Resources on Thursday said that its Thoothukudi Sterlite Copper smelter plant has not been operating since March 27, 2018.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TPCNB) directed the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant with immediate effect while disconnecting its power supply for non-compliance of certain conditions imposed on the plant earlier.
Chief Minister Palaniswami on Thursday lambasted political parties and anti-social elements for "deliberately instigating and misleading" innocent people, leading to violence and loss of lives during the anti-Sterlite protests.
"Some political parties and anti-social elements have wantonly instigated the innocent people who have been protesting peacefully all along and took them on the wrong path, leading to unfortunate incidents," Palaniswami said.
Cases were registered on Thursday against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's M K Stalin and Makkal Needhi Maiam's Kamal Haasan for defying prohibitory orders, officials said. Stalin had held a sit-in protest at the state secretariat before he was removed by security personnel.
Cases were also filed against Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko and Haasan for visiting the hospital where those injured in clashes were being treated.
Sterlite Copper CEO Ramnath in an interview to Business Standard appealed to the government to ensure the safety of the company's employees, facilities, and the surrounding community. On the issue of addressing the concerns surrounding Sterlite Copper, he said that the company has been engaging with the local community.
Hearing a PIL against the Sterlite factory in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Wednesday ordered that construction work on the second plant of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper at Thoothukudi be stopped with immediate effect.
With agency inputs