Centre seeks report on Tuticorin incident from Tamil Nadu government; Rajnath Singh appeals for peace
AMN / Thuthukkudi / Chennai / NEW DELHI
Normal life remained paralysed Tuticorin, Thuthukkudi town in Tamil Nadu with shops and markets remained closed for the third day today even as centre appleaed for peace in the town.
There were incidents of hurling of petrol bombs and arson from some part of the town. Internet services like Facebook, email and Whatsapp remained suspended in Thuthukudi and neighbouring districts of Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli.
20 companies of Tamil Nadu State commando units, with 80 members in each group, have been deployed in Thuthukkudi. Special police teams, numbering over 500, have also been posted in the Anna nagar and Muthiahpiram areas in Thuthukkudi. The new District Collector Sandeep Nandoori said, all steps are being taken to restore normalcy in the district.
The Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu in the aftermath of the recent violence.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh while appealing to the people of Tuticorin to maintain peace said that, PM Narendra Modi is grieved by the events in Tuticorin and is keeping a watch on the situation.
He asked the state government to provide detailed information on the action taken in the context of peace and restoring normalcy. The state government has been asked to submit a detailed report on the Sterlite plant violence.
While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Palanisami says the state govt is preparing a detailed report, and efforts are being made to maintain peace. He accused the opposition parties of inciting violence, saying some anti-social elements infiltrated the anti-Sterlite plant protestors and indulged in violence.
Chief Minister said, following directives from the State Pollution Control Board, the electricity supply to the Sterlite Copper Plant has been snapped.
Tight security has been imposed in the entire district in view of the firing on protestors.
The State Government has imposed restrictions under Section 144 in violence-hit areas of the city for 72 hours and internet services have been cut off for five days.
Additional security forces have been sent from nearby districts to Tuticorin and the situation is reported to be under control.
Following the transfer of the Tuticorin District Collector and SP, a new District Collector has taken charge.
The reverberations of Tuticorin are being felt in Delhi… A petition calling for a probe into the incident was filed in Delhi High Court on Thursday.
Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy accused the opposition of politicising the issue.
Speaking to media in Chennai, he expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the 13 deceased who were killed in the violent incidents.
He pointed out that the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board had cancelled the application made by the Sterlite industries on April 9 itself. According to its latest order on May 23, power supply has been suspended to the Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thuthukkudi.
Earlier, DMK working President and Opposition Leader M K Stalin demanded Chief Minister’s resignation on moral grounds.
The National Human Rights Commission has sent notices to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and DGP, asking them to submit a detailed report within two weeks and the Madras High Court has stayed the proposed expansion of the plant.
Police have arrested 67 persons over allegations of inciting violence.
The port city of Tuticorin, about 600 km from state capital Chennai, witnessed large-scale violence and arson on Tuesday which led to the killing of 10 people allegedly in police firing. Violent protests erupted once again on Wednesday, in which one person died.