Police firing: Seventeen days after Thoothukudi violence, Tamil Nadu government transfers two deputy Tahsildars

13 people, including two women were killed and 102 others injured in clashes between the protesters, cops and subsequent police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests that turned violent on May 22
In this 22 May 2018 photo, a police personnel shoots at the protesters protesting against the copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi. (EPS)
In this 22 May 2018 photo, a police personnel shoots at the protesters protesting against the copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi. (EPS)

THOOTHUKUDI: Seventeen days after the bloody violence during the anti-Sterlite protests in this Southern district, Tamil Nadu government on Friday transferred two deputy Tahsildars, who allegedly issued the orders for the police firing that left 13 people dead.

Official sources said Thoothukudi district collector Sandeep Nanduri ordered the transfer of P Sekar, Special Deputy Tahsildar (Election), Thoothukudi town and M Kannan, Thoothukudi Zonal Deputy Tahsildar to Srivaikuntam and Kayatharu panchayat towns, respectively.

However, the reason for the transfer was not disclosed.

Mr Sekar, who filed the First Information Report at the Thoothukudi Sipcot police station on May 28, stated that he had to issue the firing orders as a last resort on May 22, after the anti-Sterlite protesters numbering about 10,000 marched to the Collectorate with deadly weapons, defying the prohibitory orders, hurled petrol bombs, burnt vehicles and attacked the public and police personnel with an intention to murder.

Similarly, Mr Kannan, who filed the FIR in Thoothukudi North police station, said about 500 protesters, including women entered the police quarters at Threspuram with sticks, petrol bombs and machetes, and attacked the police and damaged property.

He ordered firing after the failure of warnings, lobbing of teargas and lathicharge by the police to quell the violent mob.

Earlier, the state government transferred then Thoothukudi District Collector N Venkatesh and Superintendent of Police P Mahendran on May 23, following the sporadic violent incidents and police firings.

Thirteen people, including two women were killed and 102 others injured in clashes between the protesters and cops and subsequent police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests that turned violent on May 22 and 23 in Thoothukudi town.

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