Sterlite protest: 13 dead, over 100 hurt; Harsh Vardhan to look into matter

The Delhi High Court today on Friday it to the NHRC to decide a lawyer's representation for an independent probe into the incident

At least 13 people had died and 102 others were reported injured by Thursday in the anti-Sterlite protests in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi as the death toll kept increasing. Further, vehicles worth Rs 10.27 million were damaged and burnt down during the protests. 

"A total of 13 people have died, including 11 men and 2 women. 102 people have been injured out of which 19 are severe cases. Vehicles worth Rs 1 crore 27 lakh have been burnt down," said Shailesh Kumar, IG (South Range), while talking to news agencies. 

At least 67 people have been arrested until now for indulging in violence and damage to public property. The protest over Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit took a violent turn on Tuesday when stones were pelted by agitators and police vehicles were toppled after they were prevented from marching towards the plant.

Hearing a petition filed by a Tamil Nadu based lawyer, the Delhi High Court on Friday left it to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to decide if it wants to conduct an independent probe into the incident. 

Violence broke out on May 22 during protests demanding the closure of the factory over pollution concerns with police opening fire, resulting in the death of 13 people. The agitation has been going on for over three months to demand the closure of the factory.

Here are the top 10 developments around the Thoothukudi protests over the Sterlite expansion issue: 

1) Harsh Vardhan says will look into demands of agitators: Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan today said he will look into the demands of the protestors seeking the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin and asserted that "all this happened" during the previous government's tenure.

"I just returned in the morning and I read about it (Tuticorin) in the newspapers. We will certainly look into what is happening. All this happened during the tenure of the last government. I do not want to make an issue out of it," Vardhan told PTI when asked about the issue.

2) Delhi HC leaves it to NHRC to decide lawyer's plea: The Delhi High Court today left it to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to decide a lawyer's representation for an independent probe into the deaths in police firing during the protests against Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district.

Since the NHRC has already sought a report from the state's chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP), the Tamil Nadu-based lawyer can appear before the Commission to obtain suitable directions, Justice Rajiv Shakdher said.

"Let the represenation be placed before the NHRC for directions on May 29," the court said and disposed of the plea by advocate A Rajarajan.

3) Notice to CBI on plea seeking probe into police firing: The Madras High Court today issued notice to the CBI on a PIL seeking a probe by the agency into the police firing in Tuticorin in which 13 people lost their lives.

A vacation bench of justices T Ravindran and P Velmurugan directed the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary to consider the representations of the petitioner, an advocate, in this regard.

The bench posted the matter to May 30 following a request from Narmadha Sampath, Additional Advocate General, representing the Home Secretary, for filing the counter.

The petitioner alleged that it was prima facie clear that police personnel were directly involved in the killings.

4) Group of men in Sri Lanka protest against Tuticorin police firing: A group of people in Sri Lanka's north district today protested against the police firing on the protestors in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

Holding placards condemning the alleged police brutality, the group staged a demonstration at Jaffna this morning.

Meanwhile, a Left-leaning trade union, United Federation of Labour has written a letter condemning the firing on protestors.

In the letter, addressed to the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, they urged that their protest be conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami.

"The United Federation of Labour vehemently protest against the brutal attack and killing of the workers and 17-year-old girl of Sterlite copper plant of Thoothukodi (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu", they said in the letter yesterday, reported PTI.

mixed response in Tamil Nadu

Police personnel baton charge at a protestor demanding the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit, in Tuticorin | Photo: PTI

5) DMK's Kanimozhi detained: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi was detained on Friday after DMK-led opposition parties' held a protest against police firing during the anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi.

While protesting, Kanimozhi told reporters that the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led government has become "bloodthirsty" and the chief minister should be held responsible for the incident.

6) In pain over anti-Sterlite protest, says Vedanta chairman: Vedanta Resources Plc Chairman Anil Agarwal has expressed his sorrow over the anti-Sterlite protests in which 13 people have died. He said that he was in pain over the ongoing protest in Thoothukudi.

"I am very sad to hear the incident. This was absolutely unfortunate, my full sympathy with the family. The plant is closed because of an annual shutdown and we are waiting for clearance from the court and the government to re-start the plant," Agarwal said. 

7) Will take legal steps to close factory, says Tamil Nadu CM: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said it was taking steps to close down the Sterlite factory at Thoothukudi after 13 people died when the police opened fire on protesters who were demanding the factory’s closure.

“Amma's (former CM J Jayalalithaa) government is taking the legal route to ensure that Sterlite is shut down,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

7) Thoothukudi plant not operating since March 27, says Vedanta: Vedanta Resources on Thursday said that its Thoothukudi Sterlite Copper smelter plant has not been operating since March 27, 2018.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TPCNB) directed the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant with immediate effect while disconnecting its power supply for non-compliance of certain conditions imposed on the plant earlier. 

8) TN CM blames parties, anti-socials for Thoothukudi violence: Chief Minister Palaniswami on Thursday lambasted political parties and anti-social elements for "deliberately instigating and misleading" innocent people, leading to violence and loss of lives during the anti-Sterlite protests.   

"Some political parties and anti-social elements have wantonly instigated the innocent people who have been protesting peacefully all along and took them on the wrong path, leading to unfortunate incidents," Palaniswami said.

9) Cases registered against Opposition leaders: Cases were registered on Thursday against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's M K Stalin and Makkal Needhi Maiam's Kamal Haasan for defying prohibitory orders, officials said. Stalin had held a sit-in protest at the state secretariat before he was removed by security personnel.

Cases were also filed against Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko and Haasan for visiting the hospital where those injured in clashes were being treated. 

10) We're being victimised, says Sterlite Copper CEO: Sterlite Copper CEO Ramnath in an interview to Business Standard appealed to the government to ensure the safety of the company's employees, facilities, and the surrounding community. On the issue of addressing the concerns surrounding Sterlite Copper, he said that the company has been engaging with the local community. 

HC orders stay on plant's construction: Hearing a PIL against the Sterlite factory in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Wednesday ordered that construction work on the second plant of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper at Thoothukudi be stopped with immediate effect.   

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With agency inputs