Sterlite protest in Tuticorin: MHA seeks a detailed report from Tamil Nadu government. (PTI image)

Anti Sterlite protests LIVE: The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from Tamil Nadu government over Tuticorin incident where 11 people were killed on Tuesday in police firing during protests against Vedanata’s Sterlite industries. A senior Home Ministry official has said that MHA is in constant touch with the state government over the issue. Police resorted to firing after a strong crowd started marching to the district collectorate demanding to scrap of the proposed expansion of the plant. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has ordered a probe into the incident even as state Governor Banwarilal Purohit condoled the deaths. Palaniswami has also announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased and a compensation of Rs three lakh for the severely injured and Rs 1 lakh for those who received minor injuries.

Check Anti Sterlite LIVE updates:

– Left organisations (CITU, DSO and others) held a joint protest in Chennai against the death of people during anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi. Earlier in the day, the party has held the protest in Kerala’s Coimbatore.

Left organisations held a protest in Chennai. (Image: ANI)

– Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has held both state government and police officials responsible for the incident. “State govt & Police must be held responsible for this massacre of common people, they should’ve been more alert. Since they had less force they had to resort to other ways for controlling crowds, they knew it was going on for 3 months,” Azad told ANI.

– Madras High Court has asked the state government to preserve the bodies of the 11 people who were killed in police firing on Tuesday until further order.

– DMK Working President MK Stalin has met the victims at Thoothukudi’s General hospital.

MK Stalin meets victims at General hospital in Thoothukudi. (Image: ANI)

– The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the police firing. In a tweet, the party said that Home Minister has sought report over the same.

जिस प्रकार से तूतीकोरिन में जनता के ऊपर फायरिंग हुई और 11 लोगों की मृत्यु हुई ये एक शोक का विषय है और गृह मंत्री ने इसपर राज्य से रिपोर्ट मांगी है : श्री @sambitswaraj https://t.co/XWpFwBdlzn — BJP (@BJP4India) May 23, 2018



– At least one person dead and three others injured in a fresh violence at Thoothukudi’s Anna Nagar on Wednesday.

Fresh violence reported in Annanagar. (Image: ANI)

– A case has been filed against actor turned politician Kamal Haasan after he visited the hospital to meet the victims. As per reports of CNN News 18, the case has been filed for violating prohibitory orders.

ALSO READ| Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed BJP and RSS for Tuticorin firing

– Huge police personnel were deployed outside the General Hospital at Tuticorin. The protestors have set two buses on fire.

Police deployment outside Tuticorin’s General hospital. (Image: ANI)

– Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has condemned police firing at Tuticorin. In a video message, the superstar has offered condolences to victim’s family.



– The protestors on Wednesday set two public buses on fire at Tuticorin. The buses were set on fire outside General Hospital where the victims are undergoing treatment.

Protestors set two public buses on fire. (Image: ANI)

– The inquiry by retired High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan will cover the “law and order incidents following the siege of the District Collectorate by thousands of persons violating prohibitory orders,” reports PTI. However, the government has not specified any time frame to submit the report.

Tamil Nadu government’s statement on setting up an inquiry commission. (Image: Website)

– National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Tamil Nadu government and Director General of Police over the police firing in Thoothukudi. The commission has asked the concerned authorities to submit the report within two weeks.

-Earlier in the day, the state government has convened an emergency meeting.

– Slamming the state government, DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi has said that Palaniswami government is not apologetic about the incident, reports CNN NEWS 18.



– A clash took place between locals and police outside General Hospital in Thoothkudi where victims were undergoing treatment.

Clashes between locals and police outside General Hospital in Thoothukudi. (Image: ANI)

– Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday held a protest march in Kerala’s Coimbatore against Tuesday’s police firing. The party also protested at several places in Chennai.

CPI(M) holds a protest in Coimbatore. (Image: ANI)

– The Vedanata group has expressed regret over the police firing. It also asked the state government to ensure proper safety of its employees. “It is with great sorrow and regret that we witnessed today’s incidents around the protest at Tuticorin. The company has appealed to the government and authorities to ensure the safety of our employees, facilities and the surrounding community. The Sterlite Copper plant is currently non-operational as we await approval for the Consent to Operate,” says Vedanata group’s statement, reports News Minute.

– The state government has set a Commission of inquiry by a retired high court judge Aruna Jagadeesan to probe Thuthukkudi police firing happened on May 22, 2018.

– The DMK working president MK Stalin on Wednesday slammed the state government over the police firing. Stalin called it a mass murder of innocent people.

Who ordered the police firing on protestors? Why were automatic weapons used to disperse the crowd and under what law is this permitted? Why were rubber/ plastic bullets or other means NOT used to avoid fatal injuries? Why was no warning given before firing? #SterliteProtest — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 23, 2018

Why was there not adequate police presence to maintain law and order during #SterliteProtest? Is it accurate to say that there was a total failure of State intelligence which led to these unfortunate deaths? Did IG-Intelligence brief police and @CMOTamilNadu on the situation? — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 23, 2018

Where does the final accountability lie for the brutal murder of at least 11 Tamils? Will @CMOTamilNadu take action against DGP for failing to maintain law and order? Will Chief Secretary explain her role in this entire episode? Will there be justice for #SterliteProtest ? — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 23, 2018



– Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has met the victims at a General hospital in Thoothukudi. Haasan also demanded a detailed investigation into the police firing. “We must know who ordered this firing. It is not me but the victims who are demanding this. Merely announcing compensation isn’t a solution. This industry must be shut & this is what people demand,” Haasan told ANI

Kamal Hassan at a General Hospital in Thoothukudi.(Image: ANI)

– The main opposition party DMK has called for an all party protest on May 25 over the matter.

– Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has met the people who were injured in Sterlite protest on Tuesday. The victim’s families have raised the slogan “‘Please come and see what they have done to us.”

#Correction Kamal Haasan met people who were injured in #SterliteProtest yesterday, at General Hospital in #Thoothukudi; family of victims said, ‘Please come and see what they have done to us’ (Earlier translation was incorrect, hence deleted) pic.twitter.com/t9OwmDZqiv — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018



– In a setback to Sterlite, the Madurai bench of the Madras High court has stayed the expansion of Sterlite plant.

– 42 people injured in Tuesday’s incident were admitted in a hospital at a hospital in Thoothukudi. While few were transferred to Tirunelveli medical college. “42 people have been admitted to our hospital till now, few transferred to Tirunelveli medical college to reduce congestion. 10 bodies are in the mortuary here. 17 surgeries have been done,” Dr A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education told ANI.

Dr A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education. (Image: ANI)

– Film superstar and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has arrived in a hospital at Tuticorin to meet people who were injured in Tuesday’s incident.

Kamal Haasan arrives at General Hospital at Thoothukudito meet victims. (Image: ANI)

– Former Union Health Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has asked the government to immediately suspend SP, Collector, DGP and Chief Secretary and booked them for cold-blooded murder. Ramadoss also asked Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to resign on moral ground. “What happened in Tuticorin is a cold-blooded murder by police. They should be booked for murder & SP, Collector, DGP & Chief Secretary should be suspended. Taking moral responsibility, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami should resign,” Ramadoss told ANI.

– Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday asked former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s response on Sterlite protest incident. swamy alleged that Chidambaram had worked as a Director in the company for many years. “P Chidambaram should answer on Sterlite Protest incident, he was a paid director in the company for many years. All documents are available. He should now speak up on behalf of Sterlite,” Swamy told ANI.

ALSO READ| History and controversy surrounding Sterlite Copper plant

– Section 144 which prohibit the assembly of more than 4 people in an area has been imposed in Thoothukudi. Security has been tightened across the city.



Police deployment in Thoothukudi to maintain law and order. (Image: ANI)

– Congress President Rahul Gandhi also condemned the police firing. In a tweet, Gandhi said that police firing is a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism.

The gunning down by the police of 9 people in the #SterliteProtest in Tamil Nadu, is a brutal example of state sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 22, 2018

– Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(MDMK) Chief Vaiko on Wednesday met the victims at a General Hospital in Thoothukudi.