Salem: President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Thol Thirumavalavan has filed a PIL in Madras high court seeking a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct court monitored probe into police firing incidents against anti-Sterlite protesters at Thoothukudi on May 22 and May 23.
When the matter came up for hearing before the Division Bench comprising Justices R. Subbaiah and C. Saravanan on Friday, the bench adjourned matter to June 25 for further hearing.
While recalling the establishment of Sterlite industry in Thoothkudi, its impact on the ecology in the coastal district and incidents leading to police firing, Thirumavalavan submitted that the state police without any warning and following any procedures had opened firing at protesters, which claimed lives of 13 persons and injuring more than 100 persons.
Police action amounts to violation of human rights of protesters and the cops used aggressive measures against its own people. The demonstrators were waging a battle to lead a decent life and fighting for clean air and potable drinking water. However, authorities suppressed them.
Local people have been waging a battle against the Sterlite Copper from 1994. The industry was a major polluter in the coastal district for over two decades.
Livelihood of the people had been affected severely.
Since top officials, police and other district authorities were involved the incident, he said a free and fair investigation cannot be expected from the state police.
He sought direction to an independent agency to register FIR against the collector, superintendent of police and other police officers for the alleged offences of murder/ human rights violations. He sought direction for a court monitored CBI probe.
