Sterlite violence: Centre seeks report, wants to look into 'possible' Naxal involvement

sterilite-plant-violence-centre Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest, after at least 13 people were killed when police fired on protesters seeking closure of plant on environmental grounds in town of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu | Reuters

As the Tamil Nadu government blamed anti-social elements for the violent incidents in Thoothukudi that claimed 13 lives, the ministry of home affairs asked the state government to send a detailed report on the Sterlite plant agitation.

The ministry wants to examine whether these were spontaneous protests and identify who the anti- social elements could be, including a possible Naxal involvement in stirring the agitation.

MHA officials said the ministry is looking at the law and order angle and only a detailed report from the state government will shed light on these issues.

Official sources said the ministry of home affairs has been in touch with Tamil Nadu government over the violent incidents in Thoothukudi and a detailed report has been sought on the sequence of events and circumstances leading to loss of human lives on May 22 in the Sterlite plant protests.

“Tamil Nadu government has also been asked to provide details of the action taken to restore peace and normalcy,” said an MHa official.

The state government has also been requested to furnish a detailed report regarding the Sterlite plant.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed grief over loss of precious lives and appealed for maintenance of peace and normalcy. Soon after the Sterlite protests broke out, central security forces were kept on stand by, even as state intelligence units started monitoring the social media for rumour mongers who were trying to fuel the agitation. The agencies will also be looking at whether the Naxal groups and their overground supporters had held meetings ahead of the agitation and orchestrated the violence. The ministry is now waiting for a detailed report from the state government before it takes further action in handling the situation.