Anti-Sterlite protests: SC refuses urgent hearing on Thoothukudi violence

The Supreme court on Monday refused to give an urgent hearing to the plea filed over alleged police atrocities during protests against sterlite plant in Thoothukudi. The Court said that 'we would hear it after the vacation'.

On Thursday, Mani filed the petition in the court seeking the registration of an FIR and investigation by the CBI against Thoothukudi Collector, Superintendent of Police and other police officials. The plea has also sought registration of an FIR for the alleged offence of murder against Tuticorin Collector, Superintendent of Police and other police officials.

In Tuticorin, 13 people were killed when police opened fire on thousands of protesters demanding closure of Vedanta Group-run Sterlite Industries for allegedly polluting the area causing severe health problems for area residents, besides the depleting groundwater table.

Hundreds of people were also injured during the protests to demand closure of the Sterlite Copper smelter plant.

The petition has termed as inadequate the compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of those killed during the protest. It has sought compensation of ₹50 lakh to the families of those who were killed in the firing and ₹25 lakh to those who were seriously injured in the police firing.

It has further sought restoration of internet services in the districts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.

(with PTI inputs)