One more killing takes toll to 12, situation in state tense as data services barred in three districts
One more person was killed in a fresh police firing on Wednesday afternoon in the port town of Thoothukudi in South Tamil Nadu which continued to remain tense with the total death toll now stands at 12. On Tuesday, the protest seeking permanent closure of Sterlite's Copper Smelter Plant and its proposed second unit turned violent with the police opening fire that led to killing of 11 person. The situation remained tense in the district with protestors agitating over the firing incidents and indulging in stone-pelting. The buses did not ply while shops and other commercial establishments remained shut.
On Wednesday, police said, a mob pelting stones on 6th Street in Anna Nagar was chased away by a police team. However, when the mob intensified its attack on the police personnel, they opened fire. Four of the protesters sustained bullet injuries. Kaliappan was taken to the Government Hospital, where he was declared ''brought dead''. The injured are being treated there. The police also resorted to mild lathi-charge and fired tear gas to disperse a large crowd.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu government appointed a retired High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan as the one-woman inquiry committee to probe the police firing incident
In the wake of the protests on-going in Thoothukudi, telecom players have received a directive from the Chief Secretary to bar data services in three districts of Tamil Nadu – Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. However, voice calls have not been barred. Data services will be barred from Tuesday evening (May 23) until May 27.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president M.K. Stalin, Congress State president S. Thirunavukarasar, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko, Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi founder Thol. Thirumavalavan and Makkal Neethi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan, visited the injured at the Government Hospital on Wednesday.
TRANSFER GAME
A day after the police firing, the state government transferred Superintendent of Police (Thoothukudi) P Mahendran and district collector of Thoothukudi, N Venkatesh. The transfer of the collector and the SP came amid the demand for cases to be registered against them.
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