Sterlite-violence: FIR defends police-firing, but protestors have disturbing tales
The Sterlite protests have apparently revealed shocking abuse of power. After days of intense pressure from the opposition, the FIR has named two "deputy tahsildars" who ordered police firing on protestors. Thirteen people died. One of the tehsildars, Sekhar, claimed he did so because over 10,000 agitators with plans of violence were marching with deadly weapons. But protestors have vehemently denied such claims.
Why was Tuticorin protesting?
Since long, residents have been demanding the closure of Sterlite Copper, the copper unit of Vedanta, alleging pollution caused by it is hampering the water quality in the area and seriously harming health. Protests turned violent on May 22.
'10,000 protestors were marching with deadly weapons'
The FIR, which is based on Sekhar's complaint, mentions that on May 22, 10,000 people marched towards the collector's office carrying weapons. Police first issued multiple warnings, used teargas and lathicharge, and fired in the air. When nothing worked, they opened fire on the people. There was another round of firing when agitators attacked the ambulances, and a third when they set a building afire.
'Issued multiple warnings, used teargas and lathicharge, nothing worked'
At Threspuram, there were another 500 demonstrators with weapons and petrol bombs, who attacked police on the Main Road. Here too, police first used teargas and rubber bullets, said M Kannan, Zonal Deputy Tahsildar. "Protestors did not disperse even after the police fired at the air thrice." Cops were then forced to resort to firing. An injured woman was declared brought dead at a hospital.
'Police set fire on vehicles themselves to find an excuse'
Locals have refuted the claims in the FIR. Neither the police issue any warning on microphone, nor did they use rubber bullets, as rules mandate, they said. They also alleged cops in plain clothes had set fire to vehicles inside the collectorate for an excuse to open fire. Such action was caught on camera during the Jalikattu protests in Chennai too, they claimed.
'There was no violence for 100 days despite larger crowds'
"For hundred days there was no violence even when larger crowds had congregated. Do you think we would bring out little children if we had any plans for violence?" a mother, among the protestors, asked NDTV.
What do laws say about powers of 'Special Executive Magistrates'?
The FIR drew more questions. Why did deputy tehsildars have to order firing when several higher officials, even the collector, was present, asked CPI(M) State Secretary K Balakrishnan. According to Section 21 of the CrPC, the state government may appoint 'Special Executive Magistrates' for particular areas or for specific functions, and confer on them special powers. Both Sekhar and Kannan were acting as special magistrates.
Videos of atrocities have put the police in the dock
TN Police have come under criticism after videos emerged showing personnel deliberately targeting protestors. In one, a plainclothes cop crawls on his belly to take aim from atop a bus. Another says, "At least one should die." Another showed police dragging out protestors from their homes in the night and assaulting them. CM E Palaniswami defended such action, saying cops were "safeguard(ing) themselves."
SC to hear case after summer vacation
It is not yet known exactly how many people out of the 13 died in police firing. The Madras HC has ordered a freeze on the last rites till a detailed postmortem is carried out. The SC yesterday refused an urgent hearing in the case; it will hear it after the summer vacation.
