Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) TK Rajendran has submitted to the Madras High Court that the police had opened fire at the anti-Sterlite protesters on May 22 only to save the 277 people who were inside the collector office premises.
In a counter-affidavit filed against the petition of Seeman, Chief of Naam Tamilar Party who had sought for a CBI probe into the shooting, the DGP said that the damage caused to the public property belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD) by the protestors is Rs 28 lakhs. He has also stated that the damages caused to police vehicles, booths and TASMAC outlets is worth Rs 15.67 crores.
The DGP’s statement also said that since the CB-CID probe is going as per plan there is no necessity for a CBI probe into the matter.
The counter-affidavit stated that the state government has announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakhs each to the family of the persons killed in the shooting and Rs 5 lakhs each to the family of those injured during the shooting. He also submitted that state government jobs have been offered to families of 13 people who were killed.
The statement also mentioned that 235 cases have been filed on 259 people who participated in the protest.
On May 22, the police opened fire on the anti-Sterlite protestors in Thoothukudi, killing 13 civilians. Although it was unknown as to whom issued the shooting orders, a few officers have submitted statements claiming to have issued the orders to fire at the crowd.
A one-woman inquiry commission led by the retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan was constituted to probe the incident and submit a report. Despite the opposition to the constitution of the committee, the Madurai Bench of Madras HC refused to quash the Aruna Jagadeesan panel constituted for the probe.