Gunshot victims’ families welcome report findings

MADURAI: Aggrieved families of victims, who lost their lives after the police force allegedly opened fire at them to control a crowd of protesters during the anti-Sterlite rally in Thoothukudi on May 22, 2018, welcomed the report of Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission findings tabled during the Assembly session in Chennai on Tuesday.

Jeyakumar, brother of a gunshot victim Selvasekar (42) of Peikulam near Sawyerpuram, said whoever was involved in the firing should be given the maximum punishment. It should be treated as murder as the Commission at last recommended that former collector, former SP and 17 others, including cops were responsible for firing and let them be subject to action.

Mere disciplinary action against these officials would not convince the victims’ kin, as it could only be an eyewash treatment. Former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should also be dragged into this case, because it’s under his regime such a devastating event occurred. Further, Jeyakumar recalling EPS’s statement that the he was aware of the firing only through media and wondered how the then chief minister could ignore such a serious condition in Thoothukudi.

Welcoming the report, Jesurani (40), wife of Glaston, a fisherman, another gunshot victim from Mettupatti near Threspuram, Thoothukudi, said all those proven guilty must be punished without mercy and the long wait for justice should not take its toll.

“We only knew pains and sufferings,” said Muthulakshmi, mother of a 22-year-old gunshot victim B Ranjith, who wept tears of sorrow called for harsher punishments on those responsible for gunning down her son. The government should be strong enough to mete out punishment and should not just impose a penalty or suspension, the grief stricken mother said.

Vanitha (51), mother of 18-year-old Snowlin, who’s died in the firing, said the findings of the final inquiry commission report are still not the fullest extent of the law as permanent closure of Sterlite would be the only justice for those who died protesting it. “The way the one –member Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Jagadeesan examined me (Vanitha) as a witness gave us hope that the guilty will be punished,” she said. Though it’s a welcome relief that action needs to be taken against 17 officials, she also called for action against those responsible for instigating them.