A day after Thoothukudi shootout, Sterlite seeks safety of its employees

Kamal Haasan, M.K. Stalin skip Kumaraswamy's swearing in to visit Thoothukudi

Smoke billows out of burning vehicles after a violent protest demanding closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi on Tuesday | PTI Smoke billows out of burning vehicles after a violent protest demanding closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi on Tuesday | PTI

A day after  eleven people were killed in police firing at Thoothukudi, after a mass protest seeking closure of the Sterlite Copper smelter turned violent, the Vedanta group, which runs the company has expressed regret over the incident. The group which is worth USD 4 bn has asked the Tamil Nadu government to ensure safety of its employees and its facilities at Thoothukudi.

On Tuesday, the 100th consecutive day of the protests demanding closure of the plant, over 20,000 people gathered and marched towards the Thoothukudi collector’s office, though collector N. Venkatesh had imposed Section 144 in the area. 

The protesters allege that the plant would pose severe health threats, including chronic diseases like cancer, and also cause damage to the soil and the environment in Thoothukudi.  

As the rally reached the collectorate, the protesters were stopped by the police. An altercation broke out between the police and protesters all of a sudden and the protesters began pelting stones and torching several vehicles. The police opened fire, killing 11 people and critically injuring several others. 

Actor-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan and DMK working president M.K. Stalin skipped the swearing in cerememony of H.D. Kumaraswamy as Karnataka chief minister in Bengaluru to visit Thoothukudi.

"I am not going to attend HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. I cancelled it due to the incident which took place in Tuticorin," said Stalin.

Meanwhile, Union Home Ministry sought a report from Tamil Nadu over the incident. 

As Thoothukudi remains tense a day after the incident, the Vedanta Group has written to the state government seeking safety. In a brief statement issued to the media, the group said, “It is with great sorrow and regret that we witnessed today's incidents around the protest at Tuticorin. The company has appealed to the government and authorities to ensure the safety of our employees, facilities and the surrounding community. The Sterlite Copper plant is currently non-operational as we await approval for the Consent to Operate.”

“This statement is like shedding crocodile tears,” says Fathima Babu, one of the organisers of the Anti Killer Sterlite People's Movement. “The attack itself was to protect the interests of the corporate. Now they want to ensure safety,” she adds. Fathima is the petitioner against the Vedanta Group at the Madras High Court. 

“It was  under the instructions of Vedanta that the government interfered in our rally yesterday to protect the interests of this corporate. They made the peaceful protest turn violent,” she alleges.