Tuticorin police firing: Panel report sent to depts concerned for action against officials

CHENNAI: The Justice Aruna Jagadeesan commission’s report on the Tuticorin police firing has been sent to the departments concerned for taking action against the officials indicted by the panel, Tamil Nadu law minister S Regupathy said on Saturday.
The commission submitted its final report to the government recently.
In a statement, Regupathy said the report was to be studied intensively. “The report has been sent to the departments concerned to take appropriate action against the officers mentioned, and it is under the consideration of the legal advisors. After appropriate action is taken by the departments concerned, the final report of the commission along with the action taken report will be tabled in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly,” the minister said.
The inquiry commission was constituted in May 2018 to probe the causes and circumstances leading to opening fire, resulting in death and injuries to people. It was to ascertain whether there were any excesses on the part of police officials, and if so, to suggest action to be taken.
In its final report, the commission stated that 17 police officials from the rank of inspector general to constable were responsible and sought criminal action against them. It also recommended departmental action against the then district collector, N Venkatesh.
Based on the interim report submitted by the commission in May last year, the government withdrew 38 cases filed against the public and extended financial aid of Rs 1 lakh each to 93 people, who were arrested by the police during the protests and suffered mental distress, the law minister said. The state extended an aid of Rs 2 lakh to the mother of Bharatraj, a life-term convict, who died while on bail in 2018.
The government also facilitated issuance of no-objection certificates to those involved in 38 cases -- that were eligible for withdrawal -- for pursuing higher education and employment.