Police firing in Thoothukudi: Stalin to meet Chief Secretary

Tamil Nadu opposition leader MK Stalin is reportedly meeting state Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan following the police firing in Thoothukudi which killed at least nine people. Reports also suggest that the DMK working president is visiting the riot-hit district on Wednesday. Hence, Stalin will not attend HD Kumaraswamy’s swearing-in ceremony in Karnataka.

The protest against Sterlite copper plant turned violent as police launched a lathicharge and protesters pelted stones in retaliation. Protesters set police vehicles on fire while the district collector had ordered section 144. Police couldn’t bring the situation under control even as they used lathicharge and tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Later, they resorted to firing which killed at least nine people so far. After the shooting, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and fisheries minister D Jayakumar said that the police were forced to open fire. State political leaders have condemned the police firing and slammed the government for not taking appropriate action in the matter.