Sources from Thoothukudi stated that at least four people were killed and several others people injured on Tuesday after the Tamilnadu police resorted to lathi-charge as protests against Sterlite’s industrial plant intensified in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin). As per report four people have been admitted to local hospital and are in critical condition. Meanwhile the residents are demanding the closure of the plant, citing that the pollution it generates is causing serious health issues.
Meanwhile the agitation against Sterlite Copper, which represents the copper unit of Vedanta Limited, recently escalated after the company announced the expansion of its unit in the city. Moreover Sterlite Copper, which currently operates a 400,000-tonne per annum unit in the city, maintains that it has received necessary permits and has not violated any norms.
Furthermore with hundreds of residents and social activists protesting, there is a heavy deployment of police in the coastal city. Moreover personnel have been rushed from neighboring districts of Madurai and Virudhunagar to bring the situation under control.
