Nine dead in police firing in Thoothukudi after Sterlite protests turn violent
Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu), May 22: Nine people, including a girl, died on Tuesday in police firing after the ongoing anti-Sterlite protests turned violent with hundreds of people from nearby areas allegedly attacking the District Collectorate demanding closure of the Vedanta Group-run company.
In the first major incident of police firing in Tamil Nadu on protesters and resultant deaths, they first fired teargas shells and carried out baton charges to bring the protesters under control but passions were high.
Police then resorted to firing as hundreds of people gathered in defiance of prohibitory orders on the 100th day of their agitation ever since the company announced the expansion plans of the four lakh tonne per annum Sterlite Copper project and attacked the Collectorate.
The area around the Collectorate resembled a battle-zone with the protesters setting vehicles afire and attacking policemen with stones. Plumes of black smoke emanated from the protest site. Police retaliated in a bid to bring the situation under control.
Among those who died were identified as Antony Selvaraj, Kandiah, Gladson, Jayaram, Maniraj, Tamilarasan, Shanmugam and Venista. At least 60 people, including policemen, were injured in the clashes. Many of them were admitted to hospitals for treatment.
Opposition parties squarely blamed the State government for the deaths with one of them even demanding the resignation of Chief Minister E. Palaniswamy, who appealed to the people for calm.
The Chief Minister, who held a meeting with his ministerial colleagues and top police officials including DGP T.K. Rajendran, said action would be taken against the company.
In a statement, the state government said it would respect the wishes of the people in the matter. It said around 20,000 people took out a rally against the company and became violent by attacking police and burning police vehicles while storming the Collector's office. As police could not control the crow, they resorted to a few actions, it said.
The statement said the government will take all legal steps in the matter and asked the people to maintain peace. Police from neighbouring districts of Madurai and Virudhunagar was rushed to Thoothukudi to bring the situation under control.
The protesters alleged that police had used force without provocation on the peaceful gathering.
People in Thoothukudi are demanding the closure of Sterlite copper smelting plant alleging that it was polluting the area, and leading to severe health problems among the residents of the locality, besides depleting the water table.
Social activists have also joined the protests against the company. Heavy police deployment could be seen in Thoothukudi and surrounding areas of the coastal city.
Condemning the state government for the police firing that claimed many lives, DMK Working President M.K. Stalin said that police was committing atrocities. Other political leaders have also slammed police and the state government.
Actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, who recently announced their entry into politics, have also expressed solidarity with the protesters. The TN government must take action over the concerns expressed by the protesters, they said.
"The expansion (of Sterlite Copper) should not at all be allowed. If possible, it will be good to close down the (existing) unit," Makkal Neethi Mayyam chief Kamal Haasan said. He said there was no point in putting up a plant near residential and agricultural zone.
Rajinikanth, who had some time ago tweeted on the Sterlite protests, said: "One can't understand why the government, which gave the nod for the plant, is not taking any action and is just watching."
Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai that the loss of lives was unfortunate in a state known for peace.
The Tamil Nadu government also issued a statement in which stated that Sterlite plant was functioning in the state for over 20 years and in 2013 the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had ordered the closure of factory after people complained of irritation in their eyes after emissions from the project.
It said in March this year, the company had applied for removal of consent to operate (CTO) for its existing smelter plant. The application has been rejected for want of more clarifications after the state pollution control board found that the factory hs not fulfilled some of the major factors including non-submission of a detailed ground water analysis, action not taken to dispose waste and not building a compound wall to arrest water mixing in the nearby river.
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Some hotels switch to alternative methods to cook; panic buying of fuel subsides
Chennai (PTI): A section of hotels and restaurants operating in Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu have commenced using alternative methods to keep the business running in view of the commercial LPG shortage, officials said.
Some of the alternative methods of cooking that hoteliers said they were adopting include induction stoves and firewood. They said they adopt these methods in addition to the tweaking of menus in order to minimise LPG usage.
A top official of a city-based popular restaurant chain told PTI, "We have moved to using induction stoves. Most of our branches are using this facility now, as we have adequate infrastructure to prepare the food on the induction stoves".
Asked whether food prices would increase as induction stoves consume electricity, he replied in the negative, stating, "We are not increasing the prices. Currently, we are running our operations instead of shutting down."
A representative of Tamil Nadu Hotels' Association said that since kitchens of most of the hotels are constructed in such a way that they can use only LPG, not firewood.
"Those who have the facility to use firewood or induction may run their business. But most of them do not have that comfort. Second, using firewood also leads to air pollution," the official said.
Meanwhile, industry sources said fuel pumps are slowly getting back to normalcy as people have stopped panic buying of petrol and diesel.
"Over the last two days, there was panic buying, many ignored appeals and stood in queues for more than 2 hours to get their tank filled. Since there was a huge demand, existing stock dried up, and we were forced to shut." Gopi Bhaktavatchalam, an IndianOil dealer in Ashok Nagar in Chennai, told PTI.
"I have been individually appealing to the people not to fall for this panic buying, as it was spreading across the country. We are not Pakistan, where fuel outlets go dry due to a shortage. We are Indians, and our Hon'ble Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had told us that we have adequate reserves for 70 days. Despite such an assurance given by the government, people thronged fuel outlets. As a retail outlet, we were unable to meet the huge demand," he said.
For Saturday, he said the oil major has supplied inventory, and gradually the situation is 'returning to normalcy'. "People have realised that they fell into the trap of panic buying. Situation is returning to normalcy."
He continued: "Yesterday alone, this outlet sold more than 50 per cent higher than our usual daily sales".
Meanwhile, in a notification to fuel pump dealers, IndianOil Corporation directed its fuel outlets to avoid filling petrol and diesel in "bottles and containers."
"Under the Petroleum Act of 1934, Retail Outlets are typically only licensed to dispense fuel directly into vehicle tanks or approved specialised containers. Selling in loose bottles is a violation that can lead to serious violations and endanger public safety," the notification said.
Plastic bottles and other containers can be dissolved or made brittle by petrol, leading to leaks, spills and dangerous chemical reactions, it said. "Guidelines and restrictions are also in place to prevent the misuse of fuel for antisocial activities or criminal acts," it added.
