The long protest for the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper unit in Tuticorin over pollution concerns turned violent yesterday with agitators fighting pitched battles with police. The fight turned ugly in which 9 people were killed. The protestors went on the rampage in the town about 600 km from Tamil Nadu capital Chennai and started Hurling stones and setting government vehicles and public property on fire. The police firing during the protest has shocked everyone. The entire film fraternity in Tamil Nadu condoled the death of nine people.
Protesters blame the Vedanta group’s Sterlite plant for health problems and depleting water. The agitation against the factory started 100 days ago and took a violent turn after protesters got to know that the company is planning to expand the four lakh tonne per annum plant.
From superstar Rajinikanth to Kamal Haasan, actor Sidharth, actor Karthi, Karthik Subbraj and many others took to Twitter to condemn the shooting by the police. The protest has saddened everyone and has taken social media by storms with everyone giving their take on the shocking protest.
Check out the tweets below:
#SterliteProtest pic.twitter.com/XPKov0Ln2O
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) May 23, 2018
Each and every bullet in the chests of dead protestors will come back to haunt this sham of a govt in Tamil Nadu. Deepest condolences and prayers for the murdered innocents and their families. What a dark day in our history. #SterliteProtest
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) May 22, 2018
Saddened and angered by the government’s negligence and attitude that has lead to loss of lives today.When people protest peacefully for a proper cause its the duty of those in power to look into the problem and arrive at an amicable solution! #SterliteProtest
— Sibi (Sathya)raj (@Sibi_Sathyaraj) May 22, 2018
#MakkalNeedhiMaiam pic.twitter.com/BWu6UVzFSB
— Makkal Needhi Maiam | மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் (@maiamofficial) May 21, 2018
Shocking n Horrible!!…. Feeling really sad for innocent people shot dead by the Police… Really scary abt our Rulers and their governance & Some Corporates are more evil than we can imagine!! #SterliteKillings #TuticorinShootout
— karthik subbaraj (@karthiksubbaraj) May 22, 2018
#CloseSterlite #StopViolence pic.twitter.com/DvJJIf8o35
— Actor Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) May 23, 2018
#Sterlite pic.twitter.com/NUjCibNQx7
— Suseenthiran (@dir_susee) May 23, 2018
Shocked #ThoothukudiShooting , unacceptable to the mind. Condolences will become mere words, heart&spirit goes out to the people and their loved ones
— Radikaa Sarathkumar (@realradikaa) May 23, 2018
Orginal protesters whose demands are genuine say they never indulged in violence & they will continue peaceful protests!!! Then , who pelted stones on police & set fire to their vehicles? A rightful, peaceful protest was damaged and diverted?!!! So many innocent people affected!!
— Lakshmy Ramakrishnan (@LakshmyRamki) May 23, 2018
Shocked to hear what happened. The whole idea of a peaceful protest is to ensure that no one gets hurt..and yet so much violence.. innocent people shot..#SterliteProtest #shameonTNgovt it's truly a black day..prayers and strength to the families of the victims..#RIP change needed pic.twitter.com/LjpFe5aS3T
— varu sarathkumar (@varusarath) May 22, 2018
Shocked at the utter disregard for the lives of the Thoothukudi protestors by the killers. All the dreams and contributions of those souls are forever gone. It was so painful to hear the cops intending to kill ‘at least’ one. #SterliteProtest
— Santhosh Narayanan (@Music_Santhosh) May 23, 2018
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan also reacted to the protest that has taken whole Tamil Nadu by storm. He also met the injured people in the protest yesterday. While talking to ANI, Kamal Haasan said, “We must know who ordered this firing. It’s not me but the victims who are demanding this. Merely announcing compensation isn’t a solution. This industry must be shut and this is what people demand.”
