Thoothukudi anti-Sterlite police firing

22 May 2018 · Thoothukudi

Police fired on protesters marching against the Sterlite copper smelter in Thoothukudi, killing 13 people; the state ordered the plant closed.

Residents of Thoothukudi had protested for years against pollution from Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelter, and a protest that began in February 2018 was in its hundredth day. On 22 May 2018 a march to the district collectorate turned violent and police opened fire, killing 13 people, with some shot by police marksmen. On 28 May the Tamil Nadu government ordered the plant permanently closed. The Justice Aruna Jagadeesan commission later criticised the police and district officials.

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