Madras HC issues notice to TN govt over plea for CBI probe into Tuticorin firing

The Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu govt over plea for CBI probe into Tuticorin firing. The court also directed the government to restore internet services in the area.

The death toll from police firing at Tuticorin on Thursday went up to 13, even as cases were registered against Opposition leaders, including DMK's M K Stalin and actor-politician Kamal Haasan for defying probibitory orders, officials said.

Over 100 people were arrested for protesting police firing on Tuesday and Wednesday in the port city that left 13 dead.

Earlier on Friday, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi and other Opposition members in Tamil Nadu were detained in Chennai during a dawn-to-dusk shutdown to condemn the police firing on anti-Sterlite protestors in Thoothukudi, ANI reported. Security was stepped up across Thoothukudi city, and around 20,000 security personnel were deployed in sensitive areas, The New Indian Express reported.

Earlier, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had issued an interim stay on the expansion of the plant. In April, the pollution control board had rejected the Vedanta-owned smelter's application to renew its licence to operate beyond March 31.