Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president M.K. Stalin, along with dozens of party workers, was detained on Thursday while holding a protest outside the Tamil Nadu secretariat in Chennai against the police firing in Thoothukudi.
Later, slamming the police action, Stalin demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Edappady K. Palaniswami and state police chief T.K. Rajendran.
"Even after the death of 12 innocent people, no action has been taken against the culprits. The chief minister has become ineffective. He did not bother to visit the district and meet the people. Therefore, we demand that the chief minister and the DGP resign immediately,” Stalin said, reported ANI.
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The DMK and other opposition parties have announced a dawn-to-dusk bandh across the state to protest against the police action in Thoothukudi. Twelve people were killed as police opened fire at protesters who were marching towards the Collectorate demanding the closure of Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant, citing pollution issues.
"The DMK, the All India National Congress, the Dravidar Kazhagam, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the CPI, the CPI(M), the Indian Union Muslim League, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi will participate in the day-long state-wide protest," said a statement issued by the DMK on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board disconnected the power supply to the Sterlite Copper Smelter plant in Thoothukudi on Thursday even as the death toll in Tuesday's police firing climbed to 12.
The board also ordered the closure of the plant with immediate effect under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1971.