Guilty will be punished: Stalin on Thoothukudi police firing

CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday reiterated in the State Assembly that the government would punish those guilty involved in the “blood chilling” Thoothukudi police fring that killed 13 people during the anti-sterlite protests in the previous AIADMK regime.

The Chief Minister also said that the inquiry into disciplinary action against errant government officials involved in it would be concluded soon.

Replying to a debate on a resolution moved in this regard in the House, Stalin described the Thoothukudi shooting as a “huge blot on the history of Tamil Nadu” which no one could forget or cover up, and said that departmental action is being taken by the State Public Department against the then Collector of Thoothukudi and disciplinary action has been initiated against three revenue official in accordance with section 17 (B) of Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

The State Home Department has initiated disciplinary action against the then IG of south zone, DIG of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi SP, a DSP, three inspectors, a sub inspector and seven constables, he added.

Drawing the attention of the House to suspension of four policemen, including an inspector directly involved in the incident, the Chief Minister said that the investigation into the disciplinary action would be concluded soon. Remarking that the Thoothukudi shooting during the previous AIADMK regime was a proof of how a government should not be unsympathetic, the Chief Minister said, “Whoever is guilty, will definitely be brought to the books and punished.”

Rs 5 lakh each additional compensation to kin of deceased

Announcing an additional Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the 13 victims, Stalin listed out the various steps taken by the government to compensate the affected people since forming the government in May last year, mainly the withdrawal of cases against people not involved in protests and arrangement of jobs for them, Stalin said, “Be it the officials involved in administration or cops engaged in law and order maintenance, they should only be sympathetic public servants. They should realise that acting contrary to it would be antithetical to humaneness. Authority and law are (given) only to protect the people.”