Government to provide anti- Sterlite details to Center; HC stops company

11 people have been killed in the 100th-day protest that took place in the Tuticorin against the Sterlite company.

The Centre today asked the Tamil Nadu government to provide details of the incident at Tuticorin where nine people were killed in police firing during the protest demanding the closure of Vedanta group’s Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns, officials said.

Union Home Ministry officials said the ministry is in touch with the state government over the developments in the port town in the southern state.

The home ministry has asked the state government to provide details of the incident at Tuticorin, an official said.

11 people were killed in police firing yesterday after protests for the closure of Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns turned violent.

The protests were going on in Tuticorin for over three months, but violence erupted yesterday with agitators fighting pitched battles with police, prompting it to open fire.

READ ALSO: Nearly a dozen dead in anti-Sterlite protests; Neat Kamal Hassan to visit

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has stopped the Sterlite Company’s expansion plans, and will not be allowed clearance till the public hearing. An ex-judge is to head the enquiry.

Meanwhile, the political bigwigs like Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Hassan and   Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(MDMK) Chief Vaiko on Wednesday met the victims at a General Hospital in Thoothukudi.

Former Union Health Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has asked the government to immediately suspend SP, Collector, DGP and Chief Secretary and booked them for cold-blooded murder. Ramadoss also asked Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to resign on moral ground. “What happened in Tuticorin is a cold-blooded murder by police. They should be booked for murder & SP, Collector, DGP & Chief Secretary should be suspended. Taking moral responsibility, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami should resign,” Ramadoss said.

Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday asked former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s response on Sterlite protest incident. swamy alleged that Chidambaram had worked as a Director in the company for many years. “P Chidambaram should answer on Sterlite Protest incident, he was a paid director in the company for many years. All documents are available. He should now speak up on behalf of Sterlite,” Swamy said.