Sterlite protest: One more killed in fresh round of firing

On Wednesday, the protest started at the Thoothukudi General Hospital in the morning but as prohibitory orders were still in force, the protesters were dispersed by the police. Angered by this, the mob retaliated by pelting stones and the police shot in the air twice to disperse the crowd.

A section of agitators, after running out of the GH, threw two petrol bombs at a tea shop situated in front of the hospital. Police then sealed the entire main road stretch, following which the protesters torched two police vehicles at Bryant Nagar.

There was violence in Anna Nagar too as petrol bombs were hurled and a car of a DMK functionary was set on fire. Police then sealed Anna Nagar and fired rubber bullets. In the firing, 25-year-old Kaliappan sustained injuries to his spine and fainted. Some eyewitnesses claim that two policemen beat him after he collapsed.

Three more protesters sustained injuries. Tension prevailed throughout the day as petrol bombs were hurled at various localities of the city and vehicle tyres burnt.

Electricity supply was cut off for the second consecutive day in most parts of the city. All shops in this port city were closed for the second day in a row and not a single restaurant was open. The patients were admitted to the GH and their kin suffered without getting food. Transport services, both private and public were hit.

The body of the third woman which was not identified on Tuesday was found to be that of 47-year-old Jancy. She had come to visit her relatives in Trespuram, a fishing hamlet in Thoothukudi, and was caught in the firing. She was shot in the head and killed. Bodies of the deceased were being shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai as per the Madras High Court order.