Chennai: At least 11 people have been killed as police opened fire on protesters who went on a rampage today demanding closure of a copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu’s port city of Tuticorin, NDTV reported.
The death toll has prompted the ruling AIADMK government to issue appeals for calm and a promise to take legal action against the plant.
Chief Minister E Palaniswami, has announced a judicial inquiry into the violence.
“The protesters defied prohibitory orders and took out a procession towards the collectorate and they not only threw stones at policemen but also set on fire their vehicles. The protesters threw stones at the collector’s office,” Mr Palaniswami said in a statement.
“The police had to take action under unavoidable circumstances to protect public life and property as the protesters resorted to repeated violence… police had to control the violence,” Palaniswami, who holds the Home portfolio, NDTV report reads.
