Anti-Sterlite Protest: Govt officials hold meeting, discuss ways to bring normalcy

A day after 15 people were killed in clashes with security forces in Tuticorin, a meeting was held at the Collector's Office in Thoothukudi or Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, which is being chaired by government monitoring officers, Davidhar & Gagandeep Singh Bedi. Other officials are also present in the meeting. The meeting was held to discuss on how normalcy can be brought in the region.

Internet services have been temporarily suspended in Thoothukudi or Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu from 9 pm on Wednesday (May 23) till 5 days. Around 11 people were killed in the firing by police during Sterlite Protests on May 22.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday removed Superintendent of Police, Thiru P Mahendran, and Collector N Venkatesh.

Speaking to media, Ghulam Nabi Azad said,''State govt knew that this being 100th day of agitation, it's going to be bigger. They should've made better arrangements to maintain law & order but nothing was done. They simply resorted to firing. It was a massacre, almost like Jallianwala Bagh.''

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court stayed the construction of Vedanta Ltd's Copper Smelter Plant 2 at Tuticorin, some 650 km from Chennai. The Madurai bench of the High Court gave this direction on a PIL against the expansion of the company's plant.

Nearly 100 people were injured in the violence on Tuesday, including 36 policemen. Normal life in the town was virtually crippled on Wednesday, with shops and commercial establishments not opening for business. Educational institutions remained closed.

The DMK and other Opposition parties have called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh tomorrow, to protest against the violence in Tuticorin. The DMK, the All India National Congress, the Dravidar Kazhagam, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the CPI, the CPI(M), the Indian Union Muslim League, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi will participate in the day-long state-wide protest," DMK's release said. "The bandh will also reflect the feelings of Tamils."

Meanwhile, Sandeep Nanduri, Collector said around 65 people have been arrested & remanded for indulging in violence during Sterlite Protests in Thoothukudi. Another 68 people have been arrested & will be produced in front of the magistrate for causing damage to public property & indulging in violence.''