317 held in Chennai for protesting against Thoothukudi shootings

Chennai/Thoothukudi: As many as 317 persons including 33 women were detained and released later in Chennai for blocking roads in the city. The protestors blocked roads at 31 locations condemning the police shoot-out and killing of 12 persons in Thoothukudi.

According to the police, a total of 2093 men and 152 women participated in the protests in the city. DMK MLAs KPP Samy and S. Sudharsanam also took part in the protests conducted in Tiruvottiyur and Kasimedu.

Meanwhile, DGP T.K. Rajendran also propped the police superintendents of all the districts to beef up the security.

The directions also have been issued to city police commissioners to increase vigil, the police sources said.

 The sources also added that the DGP office has issued orders to amplify the security arrangements and police deployments on coastal villages in the state and directed them to keep round the clock vigil. “The higher officials also directed to take severe actions against those who instigate protests. Tight security will be in place until the tension is alleviated,” sources added.

 In the meantime, the police department, anticipating the protests in Chennai, has deployed thousands of police personnel in various spots in the city such as Marina beach, DGP office, Chennai collector Office.

“Chennai police have increased their vigil at all the fishermen hamlet from Ennore to Kanathur,”  sources said.

132 arrested  for riots in Thoothukudi

Police picked up 132 men in connection with the Thoothukudi riots on May 22 and 23, according to Thoothukudi district police superintendent P. Mahendran.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Thoothukudi SP stated that the violent mob indulged in large-scale violence on May 22, pelting stones, hurling petrol bombs at several government buildings and setting ablaze 127 government and private vehicles. In the police action taken to control the rioters, 10 were killed.
Police picked up 65 men who led the riot.

On the second day of the riot, according to police, the rioters set ablaze two police buses, two vehicles belonging to the agriculture department and a private vehicle. The rioters also damaged CCTV cameras fitted at Bryant nagar and Annanagar.

To control this, police fired rubber bullets in which a youth was killed. In connection with the second day violence, police picked up 67 men, who along with the 65 picked up on the previous day, are likely to be remanded, said the Thoothukudi police superintendent.

Senior advocate Chandrasekar filed a petition at the Thoothukudi district chief judicial magistrate complaining that police had kept 96 men in wrongful custody at the Vallanad police shooting range without registering any case.

SHRC seeks detailed report from state

The State Human Rights Commission directed the government to file detailed report in connection with police shootout against anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi on Tuesday. Initiating suo motu proceedings based on newspaper reports, the chairperson of the commission Justice T. Meenakumari on Wednesday directed principal secretary, home, prohibition and excise department and collector, Thoothukudi district, to file report in connection with the death of 10 persons following shoot out in Thoothukudi on Tuesday.

The commission has also ordered probe under Director General of Police/director, investigation division, SHRC.