Fishermen say a few lawyers coerced them to join anti-Sterlite protest

They tell the media the May 22 stir that turned violent and in which 11 fisherfolk fell to police bullets, was not their of their making

In a new twist in the Sterlite story, a group of fishermen from Thoothukudi on Friday submitted a petition to the Tuticorin Lawyers Association and Legal Cell. In the petition, they alleged that members of the Makkal Adhikaram association, led by advocates Vanjinathan and Hariraghavan, instigated members of their community, and coerced them into joining the protest at the Thoothukudi District Collectorate. 

During the past month, 11 people, mostly from the fishermen community, were killed when police opened fire at anti-Sterlite protestors, who were demanding the closure of Sterlite's Copper factory in Thoothukudi.

“We, the members of the fishermen community, decided protest in the place designated by the police as per the permission given. However, the Makkal Adhikaram Association and some of its lawyers diverted our poor people towards the District Collectorate and engaged in violence,” said the fishermen in the petition.

Speaking to  media, they said the violent protest that took place on May 22 was not instigated by the fishermen community. 

Members of the comunity said fishermen will never participate in any protest hereafter, unless they receive prior police permission. They also held the Makkal Adhikaram association and its members solely responsible for all the ensuing violence on May 22.