Thoothukudi Firing: Opposition calls for strike in Tamil Nadu Today

Tamil Nadu Strike for Thoothukudi Firing: Normal life is likely to be affected in the State today as the other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu led by DMK have called for a bandh to condemn the recent police firing at the anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi. Most of the DMK’s allies and other opposition organisations like Congress, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), MDMK, VCK, Indian Union Muslim League, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), CPI and CPM have extended support to the bandh. In a statement issued late last night, the DMK said instead of the all-party protest, a state-wide bandh would be observed on Friday to condemn the police action and demand closure of the Sterlite copper smelter plant in Tuticorin district.

Read also Anti-Sterlite Protests Turn Violent | 9 Dead and Many Injured as Police Open Fire

Thoothukudi Firing

For the third day, Section 144 remained in place, shops shut and about 40 percent of buses are expected to stay away from roads in Thoothukudi, where police firing on protesters has killed 13 people. A total of 102 people were injured in the incident on the coastal town in Tamil Nadu. Also, Various trade unions have extended support to the bandh call.

Read also Protesters Who Shot dead were Prominent Anti-Sterlite Leaders

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday justified the police action against the anti-Sterlite protesters, saying the police acted in self-defence. “When someone hits you, you naturally tend to defend yourselves. so on such situations, no one acts in a pre-planned manner,” he wrote on Twitter.

Thoothukudi Firing

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission filed a petition in the Delhi high court to order an inquiry into the police killings in Thoothukudi. This plea will be heard on Friday by the court.

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