Premalatha, Sudhish booked for attacking journos in Thoothukudi

The residents of Kumareddiyapuram continued their protest for the 56th day against Sterlite Industries on Sunday. They demanded the state to stop expansion of Sterlite Copper and to completely remove the plant from Thoothukudi. 

Politicians from major parties visited Kumareddiyapuram and expressed their support for the protest. In the scenario, DMDK leader Vijayakanth announced that he would also visit the village to express his support for the anti-Sterlite protests, but as he could not visit the village, he sent his wife Premalatha and Sudhish to the venue. 

Premalatha reached Kumareddiyapuram in the morning and while addressing the protesters, she said that the satellite TV owned by her husband is alone telecasting the protest news and other media houses fear the Sterlite Industries. 

When she repeated the statement, journalists, who were present at the spot objected to it and argued that all the media houses were covering the anti-Sterlite protests from the beginning. Premalatha replied that media houses visited the village only because she had visited and they had no intention to cover the anti-Sterlite protests as such. 

Following the heated debate, she and Sudhish left the spot. When the two left, DMDK cadres led by Thoothukudi district DMDK women’s wing treasurer Angayarkanni started attacking the journalists. 

In the incident many of the reporters were slapped and were beaten in the presence of policemen. In the meantime, Premalatha and Sudhish tried to gherao Sterlite plant but were arrested by the Thoothukudi SIPCOT police. The reporters, who were attacked along with Thoothukudi Press Club functionaries, went to SIPCOT police station and filed a complaint against Premalatha, Sudhish, Angayarkanni and 10 others. 

Based on the complaint Thoothukudi SIPCOT inspector Hariharan booked a case against Premalatha, Sudhish, Angayarkanni and 10 others.