A case has been filed under sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 153(A) (Promoting enmity between different groups) on all those who visited Thoothukudi Government General Hospital on Wednesday.
DMK working president MK Stalin, MDMK leader Vaiko, Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi President Thol Thirumavalavan, State President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Su Thirunavukkarasar and politician K Balakrishnan are those who face the charges of violating prohibitory orders under section 144 that has been imposed on the town.
Meanwhile, no minister from the Edappadi Palaniswami government has visited the family of victims.
On Tuesday, 11 people were killed in police firing during a protest demanding the closure of the Sterlite copper smelter. A day later, a 22-year-old man was killed after police reportedly fired rubber bullets at him, in reaction to a stone pelting incident.
Several leaders have condemned the police department’s brutality and have asked Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and DGP TK Rajendran to step down.
While things refuse to simmer down in the state, the Chief Secretary has directed telecom players to bar internet services in the districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari until May 27.
The directive states that provocative messages spread on social media with ‘half truth' and anti-social elements are trying to exploit the situation, leading to a public emergency situation, which necessitates immediate action and for public tranquillity.
The state government has responded to the killings by appointing Retired High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan as the one-woman inquiry committee to probe the police firing and killing of civilians who were protesting against Sterlite’s copper smelter in Thoothukudi.
After a long-drawn battle, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday passed an interim order staying the expansion of the copper smelter.
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on Thursday has ordered for closure of production operations at the copper smelter. The TNPCB has further ordered for disconnection of power supply to Sterlite copper. Now, the unit cannot resume its production operation without obtaining prior approval from the Board.
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