Anti-Sterlite protests: Madras HC declines to modify order on
preservationof bodies
The Madras High Court on Thursday declined to modify its order directing the Tamil Nadu government to preserve until further orders the bodies of those killed during the anti-Sterlite protest at Tuticorin on May 22.
A vacation bench of justices T Ravindran and P Velmurugan rejected the state government's plea for modifying the court's order and directed it to file its counter by May 30. The government submitted no purpose would be served in preserving the bodies and cited opinion of experts that in case of injuries on bodies, it would lead to rapid decomposition even in cold storage. Such cases of mass preservation would accelerate decomposition, the government said.
In his petition filed on behalf of the Home Secretary, the DGP, the district collector and the SP of Tuticorin, M Murugan, joint secretary Home (Strictly Confidential) department, submitted that a team of government doctors has already conducted and completed the post-mortem of two bodies. (PTI)
"Want to ask the PM, is the Tamil Nadu CM fit to continue? This is another kind of fitness challenge that we throw it to the Prime Minister,"Singhvisaid.
"After clear proof of shooting and killings, not a single suspension has happened just transfers,"Singhvisaid.
"Has anybody found out which officer was responsible to readily accept this project when it shifted from Maharashtra," Congress leader Abhishek Singhvisaid.
"Why did the Govt reverse the Congress decision that no clearance will be given to industries in such zones where there is a clear chance of environment hazards," Congress leader AbhishekSinghvi said.
The electricity supply to Sterlite Industries has been cut off: Gagandeep Singh Bedi, governmentmonitoring officer told ANI.
"65 people have been arrested andremanded for indulging in violence during the Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi. Another 68 people have been arrested andwill be produced in front of the magistrate for causing damage to public property andindulging in violence,"Sandeep Nanduri, Collector said.
Supreme Court lawyer GSMani, has filed a writ petition in the Court seeking registration of FIR andinvestigation by the CBI against Thoothukudi Collector, Superintendent of Police andother police officials, reported ANI.
APublic Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed with the Supreme Court demanding a CBI probe into the violencethat took place over protests in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, according to media reports.
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Madras High Court refuses to modify order on preservation of dead bodies in the Tuticorinprotest. The bodies will not be cremated until further notice.
Justifying the police shooting at the protest, Tamil Nadu CM said, "If someone is attacked, the natural course would be to defend & safeguard themselves. This is what has been done by the police in response".
"I am deeply pained at the loss of precious lives during the agitation at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. The Ministry of Home Affairshas taken cognisance of the situation and sought a report on the incident and the prevailing situation from the state government," Rajnath Singhsaid.
"Amma's governmentis taking the legal route to ensure that Sterlite is shut down. Section 144 has been imposed so there are no untoward incidents. But despite this, for selfish reasons, opposition leader decided to go ahead with protests,"Tamil Nadu CMEdappadi KPalaniswami said.
"While Jayalalithaa was CM, she canceled Sterlite's permission. NGT gave a ruling that they can run a smelter, if they follow rules. Jaya went to the SC, and this case is going on,"Tamil Nadu CMEdappadi KPalaniswami said.
Just to stage a political drama, MK Stalin staged a demonstration in front of the office; Stalin did not say he wanted to me at BAC meeting: CMPalaniswamisaid.
"It was a pre-planned move by the DMK to protest right outside my office,"Tamil Nadu CMEdappadi KPalaniswamisaid.
"Priority is to restore normalcy. Will update on official death toll and number of injured by the evening. Further says it won’t be appropriate to comment on who gave the shoot orders," newTuticorincollectorSandeepNanduri said.
A Tamil Nadu-based advocate moved a plea in Delhi High Court seeking its direction to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to visit the location and conduct separate inquiry into Thoothukudi violence, instead of asking for report from state police andChief Secy of the state. Court likely to hear the petition tomorrow.
"Even after death of 12 innocent people, no action has been taken against the culprits. CM has become ineffective. He did not bother to visit the dist & meet the people. Therefore, we demand that CM must resign immediately, DGP Rajendran must resign too,"MK Stalin, DMK President said.
DMK working President MK Stalin, who was holding a protest outside Tamil Nadu secretariat over Sterlite Protests in Thoothukudi, has been detained by the police. Several others detained too, reported ANI.
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TamilNaduPollution Control Board has directed Districtcollector ofThoothukudito disconnect power supply toSterliteCopper’s smelter. Board found the unit was 'carrying out activities to resume production' despite being told not to do so until its license to operate is renewed.
DMK will reportedlydemand that Sterlite copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi be shut down permanently.
DMK, allies call dawn-to-dusk bandh on May 25
The DMK and other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu today called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh on May 25, condemning the police action against protestors in Tuticorin, in which 11 people lost their lives in the last two days. The DMK had yesterday called for an all-party protest at all the district headquarters on May 25 to condemn the police firing in Tuticorin district.
Internet services have been temporarily suspended in Thoothukudi from 9 pm yesterday (May 23) till further instruction by the administration. 11people were killed in the firing by police during Sterliteprotests on May 22, reports ANI.
Internet services have been temporarily suspended in Thoothukudi from 9 pm yesterday (May 23) till further instruction by the administration. 11people were killed in the firing by police during Sterliteprotests on May 22, reports ANI.
We have been engaging with the local community. The company has ensured 70 percent jobs from Tamil Nadu. We certainly need to step up our activity and engage with locals from Tuticorin: P Ramnath, CEO, Sterlite Copper
Ramnath also questioned why the issue had cropped up two months after the plant was shut down. "There may have been certain incidents that happened in the initial years. The Supreme Court allowed the company to operate after the initial years. The company management has been staying near the plant for the last 20 years."
P Ramnath, CEO, Sterlite Copper told CNBC-TV18that the company's Tuticorin plant has been operating in total compliance with environmental laws. "We are reaching out to protesters, villagers. We have invited protesters to the plant to see process but they haven't visited us yet. It is a myth that the company is letting out effluents in the ocean."
CSE, Amnesty condemn killing of protestors in Tuticorin
A green body today strongly condemned the killing of innocent anti-Sterlite plant agitators in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin town and said the present situation reflects "complete failure" of environmental governance in the country, reported PTI.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said people's interests should be looked into over the company's business interests as it recommended permanent closure of the plant along with a plan to decontaminate the site and the surrounding environment. At the same time, rights group Amnesty International India said the excessive use of force by the Tamil Nadu police is a "damning indictment" of the state government's determination to crush the protests.
Protest at Tamil Nadu House against killings in Tuticorin
Citizens' groups and students' organisations staged a protest outside the Tamil Nadu Bhawan at Chanakyapuri here today, condemning the Tamil Nadu government for the killing of the anti-Sterlite plant agitators in Tuticorin in police firing. Over 60 protesters raised slogans and demanded parleys with the Principal Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu, Jasbir Singh Bajaj.
Madras High Court stays expansion of Sterlite copper smelter plant in Tuticorin
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court stayed the expansion of the Vedanta's copper smelter plant in Tuticorin district, amid a continuing agitation against the plant. A bench comprising Justice M Sundar and Justice Anitha Sumanth passed the order staying construction of Vedanta's (formerly Sterlite Industries Limited) second unit in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, on a petition filed by environmental activist Fathima Babu.
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Madras High Court has orderedto preserve the bodies of the 11 people who were killed in police firing in Thoothukudi yesterday, until further orders, reportedANI.
Man killed in fresh police firing
A man was killed in fresh police firing on anti-Sterlite plant agitators today, while some others were injured in clashes with security personnel in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin town, a day after 10 people lost their lives in police action, officials said.
Enraged over yesterday's killings, protesters took to streets and showered stones and brickbats at police, prompting security personnel to open fire at Anna Nagar, they said, according to a PTI report.
The body of the man killed in firing, and those injured have been rushed to a government hospital.
TTV Dhinakaran terms police firing on protesters as a ‘barbaric act’
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMA) leader TTV Dhinakaran has terms police firing on protesters as a barbaric act.
Dhinakaran also demanded formation of an enquiry commission headed by a High Court judge to probe the incident, The Times of India has reported.
Shut down Sterlite Copper plant immediately: CPI(M)
The CPI(M) today demanded the Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin be shut down immediately as the Left party condemned the police firing on protesters in which 10 people were killed.
The party said the "brutality" of the state police is revealed in the fact that many of those killed and injured have bullet injuries in their heads and faces, according to a PTI report.
"The protests arose because of the inadequate response of the state administration to the genuine apprehensions of the people concerning air, water and ground contamination. The Politburo demands that plant should be shut down immediately. The state government should hold talks with all stake-holders," the party said in its statement.
The CPI(M) has demanded that all those responsible for this "merciless shooting" down of protesters be held accountable and immediate legal proceedings initiated against them.
Central forces in standby: Report
Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba has spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary inquiring about the violence. The Central Forces have also been kept on standby to provide any assistance if required, The Indian Express has reported.
Hitting back at Congress president’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra has said "Rahul ji, we will gift you a sixth standard Civics textbook."
Gandhi had said that Tamils were being ‘murdered because they refuse to bow down to RSS philosophies’.
Key developments:
# At least 11 people died after police open fired at protestors on Tuesday.
# Section 144 imposed in Thoothukudi, adjoining areas until Friday.
# People were protesting, seeking closure of the copper smelter.
# Madras High Court has halted expansion of the copper plant.
# CM Edappadi K Palanisamy has setup an enquiry commission.
# DMK has called for an all-party protest on Friday.
# KamalHaasan met victims at a hospital and was later booked for violating Section 144, reports suggest.
# Home Ministry has sought report from Tamil Nadu government.
# Rajinikanth has termed violence against agitators ‘failure of state, police brutality’.
# Residents have been demanding closure of Sterlite plant claiming pollution has caused health issues.
Kamal Haasan booked for violating Section 144
Kamal Hassan has been booked for violating Section 144, Firstpost has reported. Haasan had visited the general hospital in Thoothukudi to meet the victims with at least 20 other people despite the imposition of Section 144.
Rajinikanth terms violence against agitators ‘failure of state, police brutality’
Actor turned politician Rajinikanth has reacted to the anti-Sterlite protests. In a video posted on Twitter, Rajinikanth said, “I condemn the carelessness of the government, failure of the state machinery and the police brutality in the Sterlite protests. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. [Translated]”
Tuticorin factory currently non-operational: Sterlite Copper
Sterlite Copper today said its factory in Tuticorin district is currently non-functional and the company is awaiting approval from the authorities to resume operations at the site.
At least nine people were killed in police firing in Tuticorin yesterday after protests for the closure of the plant over pollution concerns turned violent.
Sterlite said the facility has been shut since March 27 when the company took up annual scheduled maintenance.
The firm's application to renew its licence to operate the copper smelter facility was rejected by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
Expressing sorrow at the loss of lives, Sterlite in a statement said it has appealed to the government to ensure safety of employees, facilities and the surrounding communities. (PTI)
Vedanta shares drop 6% after anti-Sterlite protests
Vedanta shares fell 6 percent today on reports stated that at least 11 people were killed in police firing after protests against the closure of Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper plant turned violent in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The stock lost 5.80 percent to Rs 253.85 on the BSE.
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court also stayed the expansion of the copper plant today.
DMK calls for all-party protest on Friday
DravidaMunnetraKazhagam(DMK) has called for an all-party protest on May 25 (Friday) over theThoothukudisituation, news agencyANIhas reported.
BREAKING NEWS: High Court bans Sterlite plant expansion
Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has halted expansion of the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi.
Home Ministry seeks report from Tamil Nadu govt
The Home Ministry has sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government over the situation in Thoothukudi where 12 people were killed yesterday in police firing during anti-Sterlite protests.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko has met the injured at the Tuticoringeneral hospital.
Government assures action 'respecting' people's feelings
As violent anti-Sterlite protests in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu led to the death of a man in police firing today, the state government assured that it will take action 'respecting' people's feelings on the plant and appealed to all for calm, according to a PTI report.
"The mob resorted to violence, set on fire police vehicles and those parked at the collectorate and pelted stones at the collector's office. To bring the violence under control, under unavoidable circumstances, police had to take action. To maintain law and order additional police personnel have been sent to Tuticorin," the statement said. It, however, did not explicitly mention what the police action was - firing or baton charge, as police allegedly resorted to both.
