Setback to Sterlite as HC stays expansion of Thoothukudi plant

Women shout slogans during a protest after 11 people were killed in police firing in Thootukudi | Reuters Women shout slogans during a protest after 11 people were killed in police firing in Thootukudi | Reuters

In a major relief to the protesters at Thoothukudi, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday stayed the expansion of Sterlite copper smelter plant. The order came a day after 11 people were killed as police opened fire at the protesters.

On Tuesday, around 20,000 protesters marched to the Thoothukudi collectorate defying the prohibitory orders issued by Collector N. Venkatesh  in the area. The protest turned violent after the march was stopped by the police.

As police opened fire to disperse the violent mob, 11 people were killed and scores of others were injured. Several vehicles in the premises were torched by the protesters.

The police shootout has sparked off a widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu with the opposition DMK calling for an all party protest on May 25.

DMK working president M.K. Stalin and actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan have skipped the swearing in ceremony of H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru to visit  Thoothukudi.

"Merely announcing compensation is not a solution. This industry must be shut and this is what people demand," Haasan said after meeting those injured at the General Hospital in Thoothukudi.

Meanwhile, the Vedanta group, which runs the company, has written to the state government seeking safety for its employees and facilities.

“It is with great sorrow and regret that we witnessed today's incidents around the protest at Tuticorin,” the firm said in a statement issued to media.

The Union home ministry has sought a report from the state government over the incident.