People’s Watch gives detailed account of Tuticorin police cruelty, wants CM to close Sterlite plant

Chennai : People’s Watch, a programme unit of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns, wants Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy to issue orders for immediate closure of the Sterlite Copper Smelter Part No 1 and stoppage of construction at the second plant.

The inaction of Chief Minister during the 100-day Tuticorin Sterlite protest resulted in the death of a dozen innocent people and caused heavy damage to properties.

Calling the police firing in Tuticorin on May 22 and 23 a case of “unjustified and unwanted” murder, the final report of the 23-member people’s inquest stated that it was a fallout of the total breakdown of civilian authority.

“Police repression is continuing even today. The Tuticorin police continue the terror regime and people are not allowed to participate in programmes on the police firing,” said retired high court judge D Hariparanthaman after releasing the 260-page report, “The Day Tuticorin Burned,” at a function in Loyola College here on Sunday.

People’s Inquest wants criminal probe into Thoothukudi firing

Anti-Sterlite protests: Imposition of Sec 144 was not known to public in Thoothukudi, reveals report

ஸ்டெர்லைட் : தூத்துக்குடி எரிந்த தினம் அறிக்கை வெளியிட அறிவிக்கப்படாத தடையா? 

The Summer that Shook Thoothukudi  - A Brief Look at the People’s Inquest Into The Thoothukudi Police Firing. 

People’s Watch, a programme unit of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns, wants Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy to issue orders for immediate closure of the Sterlite Copper Smelter Part No 1 and stoppage of construction at the second plant.

The inaction of Chief Minister during the 100-day Tuticorin Sterlite protest resulted in the death of a dozen innocent people and caused heavy damage to properties.

A coalition of civil society organisations in Tamil Nadu titled, ‘Coordinating Committee for People’s Inquest into Thoothukudi Police Firing’ organised a People’s Inquest (PI) on June 2-3, 2018 at Thoothukudi and its suburbs, into the targeted killings, arbitrary detentions and torture on May 22, 2018 and thereafter, in Thoothukudi. As per the latest records, 15 protestors were killed and more than a hundred severely injured in protests against the Sterlite Copper plant. May 22, 2018, marked the 100^th day of protests against the Sterlite Copper plant. 

Demand the immediate closure of the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi

Members of People’s Watch who were present at the spot said that Chief Minister’s inaction during the 100 day protest and his gross negligence during the rally resulted in the loss of several lives and left many others grievously injured.

The organisation demanded the immediate closure of the Sterlite Copper plant and sought an enquiry by the National Human Rights Commission as well as the State Human Rights Commission.