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CPI-M Demands Probe Into Tuticorin Police Firing By A Madras HC Sitting Judge

THE Politburo of the CPI (M) has strongly condemned the police for firing on people protesting against the Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper Industry in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, resulting in  the deaths  of twelve people and injuries to over a hundred. The PB said in a statement that the brutality of the state police is revealed by the fact that many of those killed and injured have bullet injuries on their heads and faces. 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 permanently. All those responsible for this merciless shooting down of protesters should be held accountable and immediate legal proceedings should be launched against them. The enquiry announced to probe these brutal killings should be headed by a sitting judge of the Madras High Court, it added.Meanwhile, several hundred people led by DMK Working President MK Stalin demonstrated outside the residence of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Palaniswamy at Chennai as Thoothukudi, the port city 600 km from the state capital, remained tense. Internet services — suspended from 9 pm yesterday — will be off for the next five days in the port city .The State Government has transferred the police chief and the District Collector of Tuticorin. Prohibitory orders are still in place in pockets of the city. The last rites of those who died in the violence are yet to take place. The Madras High Court has ordered that the bodies be preserved till further orders.After the cell phone and internet services were shutdown, Kamal Haasan, film  star turned politician,  has tweeted : “Internet connection cut in Thooththukkudi ? Alarming! What next? Excommunicate Tamil Nadu? TN would see an uprising, much bigger than any, in its history. No Government is strong enough to take on the might of my people.” he opposition DMK has called Tuesday’s police crackdown a massacre equivalent to Jallianwala Bagh, in which the British forces led by General Reginald Dyer had opened fire on a peaceful gathering on April 13, 1919 in Amritsar . The criticism became louder after a video surfaced that showed the police taking strategic position atop a bus and shooting at the crowd below.Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted: “Citizens have a fundamental right to protest. The police neither have the right nor a duty to kill. In Tuticorin the State did that: killed 9/10 peaceful protesters We watch in silence when citizens silenced forever by the State Desh badal chuka hai”.(image Courtesy News 18 TV).TOI says The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday ordered suspension of internet services in Tuticorin and adjoining districts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari for five days to prevent spread of rumours through social media and help restore bring public tranquillity. Blaming provocative messages spread through social media, the government in an order said such messages led to a massive gathering of about 20,000 people on Tuesday in Tuticorin against Sterlite’s copper plant which subsequently resulted in violence and police action.Anti-social elements were trying to exploit the situation , the government said  and directed nodal officers of Internet Service Providers in these three districts to suspend internet services till May 27 effective from Wednesday .The Director General of Police said it is felt necessary that the services of internet should be stopped/curtailed to prevent spread of such rumours. The government said the temporary restriction was in the interest of maintaining public order and preventing incitement to commission of any offence.

 

 

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