CHENNAI: Madras High court in Chennai today canceled as many as 173 FIRs filed by the Tamil Nadu police after the death of 13 people has resulted in police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin in May.
The police had opened fire on protesters who demanded the shutdown of Sterlite Copper plant on May 22, NDTV reported.
The protesters demanding the shutdown of the plant in the area over deadly pollution finally was heard by the Government which later closed down the plant.
Taking action against the protest that resulted in the killings, the police filed as many as 173 FIRs which included several thousand unnamed people.
“It’s an abuse of the law. Even all the people in Tuticorin can be implicated,” the Madras High Court said, ordering the police to treat all as one FIR.
According to the Protesters and activists, the Tamil Nadu Police used snipers to kill innocent people and alleged that the protest escalated after the Police threw stones at the protestors.
But the police said that the violence was initiated by “anti-social elements” who had infiltrated the protests which compelled them to use weapons to contain the situation.
The Tamil Nadu has been accused of using weapons to contain the situation while several people were arrested for rioting and damaging public property.