Madras HC seeks video, documents and reports prior to firing incident in Tuticorin

Chennai, July 13: The state of Tamil Nadu saw a dark day when the Tuticorin protest and the violence including the firing in the town on the 100th day of the stir in the state went haywire. In this context, the Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to submit video recordings, documents, and reports pertaining to protests against the Sterlite Copper smelter plant in Tuticorin.

The bench of five judges directed the state government to submit the same on July 18. The judges were hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by A.W.D. Tilak, a Tuticorin-based advocate, who sought a copy of the order issued to invoke Section 144 of CrPC that was clamped in parts of the town during the anti-Sterlite agitation. The petitioner submitted that prohibitory orders had been held in the jurisdiction of SIPCOT and Tuticorin South Police Station limits only.

On July 9, the Madras High Court had directed the state government to furnish a video in its possession supposedly showing some anti-Sterlite protesters with petrol bombs during the stir in May as it observed that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the violent incidents will instill confidence in the minds of the people.

The state government had issued an order for “permanent closure” of operations at Sterlite plant. The company has moved the National Green Tribunal challenging the order.

Sterlite Copper Plant in Tuticorin incident:

In the wake of pollution concerns in Tamil Nadu, people came out in protest to demand the ban the Sterlite Industries. The month-long protest turned violent as almost 10 people died and several others injured in the police firing at the anti-Sterlite protest at Thuthukudi.

Residents have been demanding the closure of the plant, citing that the pollution it generates is causing serious health issues. The agitation against Sterlite Copper, which represents the copper unit of Vedanta Limited, recently escalated after the company announced the expansion of its unit in the city. Sterlite Copper, which currently operates a 400,000-tonne per annum unit in the city, maintains it has received necessary permits and has not violated any norms.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami later ordered the permanent closure of the Thuthukkudi Copper Smelter plant.