Amid allegations that the police were conducting midnight search operations to arrest those suspected of involvement in rioting and arson during the anti-Sterlite protest on May 22 last, Superintendent of Police Murali Ramba clarified that the law enforcement officials were only arresting those against whom they had obtained clinching evidence.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Mr. Ramba said the police had registered 243 cases after ₹15.67 crore-worth properties, including 331 government-owned properties, were destroyed during the anti-Sterlite protest that turned violent on May 22. Subsequently, based on the evidence gathered during inquiries, they arrested 248 persons.
‘Normalcy restored’
“The police are detaining only those who were involved in rioting and arson, and have never harassed women and children. Thoothukudi district has returned to normalcy with the cooperation of the public, for which I thank the citizens of Thoothukudi,” he said.
He made it clear that those who were spreading rumours and engaging in malicious campaigns against the police on social media would be taken to task.
Building peace
The SP said the district police, by engaging with residents’ welfare associations and other organisations, were making sustained efforts to ensure lasting peace in the coastal town. The police were meeting the residents of Lions Town, Terespuram, Madathur, Pandaarampatti, Sahayapuram and other localities regularly to allay their fears. “If the public still have any fears, they can call me on 99524-23555,” Mr. Ramba said.
Earlier in the day, the Communist Party of India (CPI) submitted a petition to the SP, demanding a stop to the “midnight arrests” of persons alleged to have been involved in rioting and arson during the anti-Sterlite protest, which culminated in the death of 13 persons.
‘Causing panic’
In the petition, party district secretary Azhagumuthu Pandian said 13 persons lost their lives in the police firing as the anti-Sterlite protest turned violent.
The police, by conducting midnight searches on residences to arrest the accused in the cases that were registered after the violence, had triggered panic among women, the petition said.
“Since such search operations will ruin the normalcy that has returned to Thoothukudi and sow a sense of fear in the minds of women and children, they should be stopped. Besides withdrawing the cases registered in connection with the violence, the police should release the persons they have detained,” said Mr. Azhagumuthu, who was accompanied by veteran CPI leader R. Nallakannu.