Articles by "Tuticorin"
Tuticorin (TN), Jul 5: Over a month after the unbridled violence during an anti-Sterlite protest here that claimed 13 lives, some locals involved in the incidents have claimed they were "brainwashed" by a Left outfit to picket the district collectorate.
Hundreds of protesters had gone on the rampage on May 22, storming the collectorate, setting buildings and vehicles ablaze, and prompting police action that triggered outrage and forced the Tamil Nadu government to close the copper smelter unit.
The outfit--Makkal Adhikaram-- has, however, rejected the allegation.
On May 22, after the district collectorate was picketed to seek closure of the copper plant of Sterlite, a unit of the Vedanata group, over pollution concerns, large- scale violence had followed. In the consequent police firing, 13 people were killed on May 22 and 23.
Blaming Makkal Adhikaram (People's Power) for the picketing of the district collectorate, Madathur villagers in Tuticorin district accused the outfit and its allied organisations of "changing their hearts".
In a petition to the District Legal Services Authority on July 2, the villagers sought legal help apprehending that several residents may be arrested in connection with the violence.
The villagers said in their petition they had assured the district authorities at a peace meeting on May 20 that they would hold a peaceful demonstration at SAV grounds on May 22 to "draw the attention of the government" to the alleged pollution caused by the unit.
However, two advocates and their associates "who belong to Makkal Adikaram changed our hearts" in favour of besieging the district collectorate, they claimed.
The two lawyers are now claiming they had nothing to do with the protest, the villagers said, adding it has caused "fear" among them.
"We request (the authorities) to avoid linking us with Makkal Adhikaram," they said in their petition, and sought legal support to avert "police trouble" and lead a peacful life.
When asked why the petition was filed long after the violent incidents, D Pon Pandi, the main signatory to the petition and a Madathur resident told PTI, "I have about 40 cases registered against me. We, the Madathur villagers, have got nothing to do with the violence. That is why we have sought legal help."
He said people were apprehensive of arrest soon after the conclusion of a local temple festival.
Like the villagers of Madathur, several fishermen of Threspuram, a coastal neighbourhood, have accused the oufit of fomenting trouble, in their petition to the DLSA.
They too accused two advocates of Makkal Adhikaram of "intruding" into the village and announcing protests like the one against the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on April 23.
"They brainwashed the youths. It is an undeniable fact that they engaged in propaganda seeking participation in the May 22 'siege the district collectorate' protest."
They said there are ample audio, video evidence of the Makkal Adhikaram advocates "whipping up passions" in support of the stir for the closure of the Sterlite unit.
They claimed they too had assured the authorities that their protest will be peaceful.
After the violence during which public and private property worth several crores of rupees were damaged, the Tuticorin police registered over 200 cases and arrested more than 100 people many of whom later got bail.
Advocate Vanchinathan, accused of leading the protest that turned violent, was arrested last month. A case was also registered against another advocate Hari Raghavan.
Makkal Adhikaram coordinator C Raju, however, claimed the villagers had submitted the petitions under "police intimidation". He said the content of the pleas was "slanderous".
Asserting that people from all walks of life protested against the plant, he asked "From where the claim of brainwash has come?"
Raju asserted that none of the outfit's workers was involved in the violence.
Alleging that police was on a "witch-hunt" for its cadres, he said six of them have already been arrested under the National Security Act. He denied that the two advocates named in the petitions belonged to his outfit.
"Why the advocates and the outfit have been named now, more than 40 days after the violence," asked advocate, Subbu Muthuramalingam, who appeared for Vanchinathan in a court here a few days ago, insisting "there are some suspicions".
Left activist R Jawahar said, "It is wrong to say that the protest on May 22 was organised by a single outift."
Jawahar, who has authored books on the Left movement, said he suspected that those who submitted the petitions may have been asked to do so by "vested interests".
On the claims and counter claims, a top Tuticorin district police official said each and every relevant aspect was being investigated. "Probe is on. The focus is only on those who indulged in violence. Law will take its own course," he said. (PTI)
Tuticorin(TN), Jun 23 : Days after a sulphuric acid leak was detected at Sterlite copper plant here, a top district official today said 1,300 tonnes of the liquid has been removed so far from the premises.
Speaking to reporters here, the district collector Sandeep Nanduri said so far 1,300 tonnes of sulphuric acid has been removed in 75 tankers.
On June 17, authorities had said leak of sulphuric acid was detected at the Sterlite's copper plant in Tuticorin triggering fear among residents.
Sterlite copper plant had filed a petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High court seeking access to authorised persons to its premises in Tuticorin to plug the leak and evacuate hazardous chemicals with police protection.
The copper firm moved the plea stating that the leakage could be due to sabotage.
Following violence and police firing on May 22 and 23, in which 13 people died, the plant was closed by the state government.PTI
Tuticorin, Jun 23: A team of CB-CID officials today arrived here to conduct an on-the-spot probe, inspection and assessment of the areas where the anti-Sterlite protesters 'resorted to violence,' leading to police firing that claimed 13 lives on May 22 and 23.
The officials inspected the collectorate where government vehicles were torched, and the Sterlite quarters, where two-wheelers were set ablaze, police said.
In addition, the sleuths visited the godown of the Food Corporation of India, Anna Nagar, Terespuram, V V D signal, Pani Maya Matha church etc and collected material evidence from the places, they said.
Some cartridges used by the police and live bullets were seized at the spot where the firing took place, the police said.
CB-CID Superintendent of Police, Praveen Kumar Abhihnav, who is camping here, said more than 100 people were injured in the violence and subsequent police firing.
Five cases have been registered.
Each case was being investigated by an official in the rank of DSP, and 20 inspectors were deputed for the probe, he said.
The Tamil Nadu government had last month ordered a CB-CID probe into the violence during the anti-Sterlite protest in Tuticorin and police firing that left 13 dead.
Thirteen people were killed in police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests by residents demanding closure of the copper plant over pollution concerns turned violent, in the port city.PTI
Tuticorin (TN), Jun 9: More than two weeks after 13 people were killed in police firing during anti-Sterlite protests here, two deputy tahsildars who allegedly gave the order to the force to open fire, have been transferred.
Deputy tahsildars Kannan and Sekar were transferred to Kayathaaru and Srivaikuntam respectively by District Collector Sandeep Nandoor, according to an official order.
Thirteen people were killed in the police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests for closure of the plant over pollution concerns turned violent in Tuticorin.
The Tamil Nadu government last month appointed a one-person commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the Madras High Court to probe the violence in Tuticorin.
The State Human Rights Commission also has initiated an inquiry into the matter.
On May 28, the government ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the Vedanta group's copper plant, following the violent protests.
The following day Chief Minister K Palaniswami maintained in the assembly that police action was "unavoidable" and said action would be taken if anyone had handled the situation wrongly.
The issue continued to rock the assembly during the following days with the ruling AIADMK claiming that the main opposition party DMK had allotted land for expansion of the copper plant in Tuticorin district when it was in power during 2006-11.
The chief minister has listed out efforts by his government for permanent closure of the unit, including the 2013 action taken by J Jayalalithaa as then chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
He had also accused DMK working president MK Stalin of allotting a 230-acre land for Sterlite expansion when he held the industries portfolio as deputy chief minister.
The State Human Rights Commission also has initiated an inquiry into the issue. (PTI)
- Chennai, May 29 : The allotment of land for the proposed expansion of Vedanta group's copper plant in Tuticorin was today cancelled "in larger public interest" by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (SIPCOT), an official release said.
The move comes a day after the Tamil Nadu government ordered the state Pollution Control Board to seal and "permanently" close the Sterlite Copper plant following last week's protests, over pollution concerns, during which 13 people were killed in police firing.
"As the allotment of land for the proposed expansion has been made by SIPCOT, in larger public interest, the land allotment made by SIPCOT for proposed expansion of copper smelter plant (Phase-2) by Vedanta Ltd is hereby cancelled," SIPCOT said in its communication to the Vedanta group.
"The land price collected for the said land allotment will be refunded as per the norms of SIPCOT," it said.
There have been a series of agitations against the establishment of a copper plant at the SIPCOT industrial complex in Tuticorin, about 600 km from here, expressing concerns about the pollution caused, it added.
An official release here said, "The cancellation of allotment of 342.22 acres of land has been made in larger public interest and this has been communicated to the company."
Chief Minister K Palaniswami had yesterday said the state government had issued the directive to seal and 'permanently' close the copper unit, in deference to the 'sentiments' of the people.
"In deference to the opinion and sentiments of the general public, it was decided to close down the Sterlite plant and a Government Order has been issued today," he had said.
Vedanta Ltd termed the closure "unfortunate" and said it would decide the future course of action after studying the development.
The Madras High Court had on May 23 stayed the expansion of the Vedanta's copper smelter plant in Tuticorin district on a petition filed by environmental activist Fathima Babu.
The petitioner submitted that Vedanta Limited should be restrained from carrying out activities in the lands on which the proposed copper smelter-unit II was being constructed.
The court had also directed the Centre to submit within four months a report after holding a public hearing in the district to invite public opinion on the plan for expansion.
The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days.
Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.
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