Tamil Nadu taking steps to close Sterlite factory: CM
Chennai, May 24: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said on Thursday that his government was taking all steps to close the Sterlite factory at Thoothukudi after 13 people were killed in protests against it.
Palaniswami told the media that the AIADMK government was taking the legal route to ensure that the Sterlite Copper Smelter plant was shut down.
He said people in the region had been protesting peacefully for long against the company, alleging that it was causing health hazards and depleting the water table, but this time the opposition and "anti-social elements" had turned the movement violent.
"It is because of this instigation that so many people have died. And we are really saddened by the deaths," he said.
He added that in April Sterlite approached the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to continue running the factory but the permission was denied.
But the management got a favourable order from the National Green Tribunal. The Tamil Nadu government had moved the Supreme Court against the NGT ruling.
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10 held for sale of prohibited narcotic substances in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a major crackdown, the Bengaluru police on Thursday announced the arrest of 10 people allegedly involved in the sale of prohibited narcotic substances in parts of the city.
Among them are three foreign nationals, including two women, they said.
With their arrests, police claimed to have seized 5 kg of MDMA (crystal), 1 kg of cocaine, 21 kg ganja, and 19 gms ecstasy pills and a two-wheeler used in the commission of crime.
The seized drugs are worth Rs 11.81 crore, with an estimated market value of Rs 23.63 crore, they added.
According to police, based on credible information received on various dates, officers and staff came to know that prohibited narcotic substances such as MDMA (crystal), cocaine, ganja, and ecstasy pills were being sold within the limits of Yelahanka New Town, D J Halli, Koramangala, Bommanahalli, and Pulakeshinagar Police Stations.
Acting on this information, cases were registered under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act at the respective police stations, and raids were conducted at the identified locations, a senior police officer said.
During these operations, a total of 10 accused persons were apprehended on different dates, he said.
During interrogation, the accused confessed that, with the intention of making quick money, they were procuring narcotic substances such as MDMA (crystal), cocaine, ganja, and ecstasy pills from foreign, interstate, and local unidentified suppliers at lower prices, and selling them to the public, including college students, the officer said.
Efforts are on to trace the foreign and interstate suppliers involved in supplying these narcotic substances. Investigation in the cases is in progress, police said.
All 10 accused were produced before the Court on different dates and have been remanded to judicial custody, they added.
