DMK allies want EPS prosecuted for Thoothukudi police firing

CHENNAI: Allies of the ruling DMK on Wednesday urged the State government to prosecute Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami for the fatal shooting of 13 people during the anti-sterlite protests.

Participating in a debate on the resolution moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin in the State Assembly, Congress legislature party leader K Selvaperunthagai referred to the findings of the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission of Inquiry and sought to know if the glass window panels and vehicles in Thoothukudi district collectorate are more important than the lives of people.

Demanding that EPS should be booked under Section 120 (B) criminal conspiracy for the Thoothukudi shooting, the CLP leader said, “Who did you (EPS) try to satisfy by bringing the SLR and AK 47 rifles and shooting the people? Did you try to satisfy the people you took bribes from?”

“People who know nothing but betrayal are protesting, ” the Congress MLA said, referring to the hunger strike organised by EPS led AIADMK MLAs.

MDMK MLA Sathan Thirumalaikumar invoked the “vicarious responsibility” clause and said that criminal proceedings must be initiated on the former chief minister and then DGP.

VCK legislature party leader M Sinthanai Selvan described the incident as a second Jallianwala Bagh massacre and said that it was a conspiracy hatched by the EPS and sought a probe into the nexus between him and sterlite. MMK MLA M H Jawahirullah said that the EPS should be prosecuted for failing to protect the lives of people and the report had fallen short of indicting the former chief minister.

Tamizhaga Valvurimai Katchi MLA T Velmurugan also sought criminal action against all officials involved.