Nearly 100 officers, including those from the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID), on Saturday started collecting evidence in the town as part of their probe into the May 22 anti-Sterlite agitation.
During their three-day visit, the officials, belonging to 10 teams, would carry out combing operations and collect evidence from areas including the Collectorate, Anna Nagar, VVD signal, Threspuram and near the Third Mile bridge relating to the May 22 violence and the subsequent police firing in which 13 people were killed. The rally also resulted in damage to properties. Many vehicles including those belonging to the government were set on fire.
The probe teams would be gathering various material evidence and look for inputs which would be vital for documentation.
Officials from the Ballistics department and Forensic Sciences department are also part of the investigation. The operation was headed by Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police (Special Investigations division) Marirajan, officers said.
“We will be looking for evidence to identify the weapons used by the protesters. We’ll also be collecting evidence, including cartridges, on the police firing,” Anil Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), CB-CID, told The Hindu. Combing operations at the Collectorate had been completed, Mr. Kumar added.
Mr. Kumar said that the local police, who earlier probed the incident, had submitted evidence in relation to the incident with the investigating team. The investigation report would be submitted to the Judicial Magistrate in Kovilpatti soon, he said.
Earlier, the probe was transferred to the CB-CID on May 28 by the Director General of Police days after the violence.
The State and National Human Rights Commissions and retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan appointed by the State as the one-woman inquiry committee, have visited the town to probe the incident.