Thoothukudi violence: Mortal remains of 2 victims handed over to family

Mortal remains of the two victims, who died in police firing in Thoothukudi, have been returned to the family members on Friday. Thirteen people had died in the protest in Thoothukudi on May 22.

The family of Kaliyappan, one of three victims' family who had yesterday refused to accept the bodies demanding the legal closure of the Sterilite plant and a memorial for the victims, accepted his mortal remains today.

Also, mortal remains of Kanthaya handed over to family members at Thoothukudi General Hospital. He was one of the seven victims of police firing in anti-Sterlite protests, whose postmortem was conducted again on the direction of Madras High Court.

The Madras High Court on May 30 had ordered re-postmortem of seven bodies. The court ordered the re-postmortem after petitioners alleged tampering of evidence. The court had mandated that a doctor from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) or Kerala Insititute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) to be part of the team.

On May 22, police had opened fire on the protestors agitating against the expansion of the Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin, killing 13 people, including two women. The protestors were demanding the closure of Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns.

(With PTI inputs)