THOOTHUKUDI
The family members of Valliammal (68), who succumbed to burn injuries she sustained when a bus was set on fire allegedly by anti-Sterlite protesters on May 25, came to the Collectorate here on Monday, demanding stringent punishment to those who perpetrated the crime.
The family members, including S. Arumugam, the son of the deceased, said anti-Sterlite protesters intercepted the bus in which Valliammal was travelling along with her husband P. Sudalai (78) near Karungulam and hurled a petrol bomb on it.
Mr. Arumugam, a resident of Navaladi Vilai near Meignanapuram, said both his parents sustained burn injuries in the attack and were admitted to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, where Valliammal succumbed to the burns on May 31.
Apart from arresting the accused, the State government should give them adequate compensation and a government job to one member of the family, he said. A petition to this effect had been submitted to Collector Sandeep Nanduri, he added.
‘Dismantle Sterlite unit’
Meanwhile, some members of Anti-Sterlite Movement submitted a petition at the Collectorate demanding dismantling of Sterlite Copper unit and cleaning of effluents discharged by it. They also said the State government should adopt a resolution for the permanent closure of the unit in the ongoing Assembly session.
They further said the government should register a case under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC against those responsible for the killing of 13 protesters in police firing. Their others demands included construction of a memorial for the 13 victims, a compensation of ₹1 crore and a government job each to their families, and a compensation of ₹20 lakh each to those who were injured.
Princeton (22) of Thoothukudi and Vijayakumar (22) of Sathyanagar, who had their legs amputated due to serious injuries sustained in the police action, should also be given government jobs, they said, adding the police should stop conducting searches in houses at some localities, including Threspuram, and withdraw cases registered against the protesters.