Government accused of unleashing terror on innocent people; probe by sitting HC judge demanded
Political outfits including the Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Kootamaippu, the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the May 17 Movement took out a procession and held an agitation in the city on Thursday condemning the killing of 12 protesters in Thoothukudi.
Thoothukudi under siege after another death in Sterlite protest
Police beat a protestor demanding closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, May 23. One person was killed during the clash, after police’s open fire killed at least 10 people on May 22, and injured
Thoothukudi continues to be in the grip of fear as a young man was killed in a fresh round of firing by the police on Wednesday, May 23. Visuals of cops dragging his body became viral on social media
CHENNAI: While even in Kashmir only pellet guns were used, why should the Tamil Nadu police use bullets? This is the most common question raised by activists and legal luminaries.
Former judge of the Madras High Court K Chandru said the handling of the protest by the district administration and police highlighted lack of planning on the part of the district administration and also police.
People’s Watch, a programme unit of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns, wants Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy to issue orders for immediate closure of the Sterlite Copper Smelter Part No 1 and stoppage of construction at the second plant.
The inaction of Chief Minister during the 100-day Tuticorin Sterlite protest resulted in the death of a dozen innocent people and caused heavy damage to properties.
Madurai: The encounter of a prime suspect in the constable killing case in Chennai evoked wile celebrations among many police personnel with many of them posting a series of messages and photos in social media.
Strongly condemning the celebration by the police, human rights defender Henri Tiphagne of People's Watch said the police are disciplined force and disciplinary action should be taken against those identifying themselves as police and indulging in celebrating encounters.
Police beat a protestor demanding closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, May 23. One person was killed during the clash, after police’s open fire killed at least 10 people on May 22, and injured
Thoothukudi continues to be in the grip of fear as a young man was killed in a fresh round of firing by the police on Wednesday, May 23. Visuals of cops dragging his body became viral on social media
A shocking clip of a policeman in plain-clothes standing atop a police van — aiming at the protestors at the distance — has gone viral on social media with human rights activists alleging that the police made targetted strikes to kill protestors in cold blood. However, what makes the video truly chilling is the audio in the video where a policeman can be heard asking the shooter to "kill at least one person."
Henri Tiphagne of People’s Watch, an NGO, has demanded a joint suo moto enquiry by the NHRC and the SHRC on the entire duration of the Sterlite protest and the brutal use of police force at the protest.
He also demanded compensation of `20 lakh for each of the families of the victims.
Activists allege that three rounds of firing at different places by the police were only an attempt to “dilute the protests”. “There was an even bigger protest on March 24 in Tuticorin against Sterlite. But it was peaceful,” says Henry Tiphagne, the executive director of People’s Watch; he was present on the spot. “It is unfortunate that the state has failed to gauge the public mood. The people were angry but not violent. Certainly they were not angry against the government.”
