A protest demonstration was held by the Thoothukudi district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), demanding that the Tamil Nadu government initiate criminal action against the government and police officials responsible for the incident in which 13 people were killed in police firing during the protest against the Thoothukudi Sterlite plant. CPM Polit Bureau member K. Balakrishnan took part in this demonstration. Protest slogans condemning the Tamil Nadu government were raised at the demonstration. Later, speaking to reporters, Polit Bureau member K. Balakrishnan said, “In Thoothukudi, on May 22, 2018, during a democratic protest by the people against the Sterlite plant, the police opened fire. In this, 13 people lost their lives.

Many people were injured. In connection with this incident, the inquiry commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan conducted an investigation and submitted a report. In that report, the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission extensively examined whether proper warning was given to disperse the crowd before the gunfire and whether the precautionary measures required by law were followed. The commission’s report states that no precautionary measures, including the use of tear gas and firing into the air, were taken, and that gunfire was opened directly.
The commission has examined the deaths of people and the injuries sustained by many in and around the District Collector’s office, as well as the manner in which immediate medical assistance was provided to the injured. The Aruna Jagadeesan Commission has recommended departmental action and criminal proceedings against the officials responsible for the incident. The commission report has recommended action against officials, including 17 from the police department. Meanwhile, in the case related to the Sterlite shooting, the Madurai Bench of the High Court continues to hear the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission report and the actions taken based on it.

During the hearing, the government’s report stated that the departmental proceedings against three senior officials, including the then Thoothukudi District Collector Venkatesh, the then IG Shailesh Kumar Yadav, and DIG Kapil Kumar C. Sarathkar, had been dropped by the previous government. Following this, the High Court has asked for the current T.V.K. government’s position on reconsidering those proceedings.
“The government is not under a legal obligation to fully implement the recommendations of the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission,” it has also been reported that the Tamil Nadu government’s Advocate General told the court. In this matter, the actions taken by the previous DMK government were not sufficient. The current TVK government continuing the previous government’s stance in taking action against the concerned officials would be an injustice to the people of Thoothukudi district. Whoever commits the crime, everyone is equal before the law. Officials should not be exempted from action merely because they are officials.

Appropriate action should be taken based on the commission’s recommendations. Vijay, who was an actor during the Sterlite shooting incident, met the families of those who died and expressed his condolences. Now that he is the Chief Minister, it seems as though he is supporting the concerned government officials. Appropriate action should be taken against the government officials involved in this incident,” he said.
