'We feel cheated', say kin of those killed in anti-Sterlite protest firing in Thoothukudi

The fourth anniversary on Sunday, May 22, of the police shooting that killed 13 people during an anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, brought with it some fresh bitterness for the kin of the victims.

Family members of those killed in the police firing feel both the Centre and the state government have failed them, as the CBI has failed to book any of the policemen involved in the incident.

Also read: Thoothukudi anti-Sterlite protest firing: CBI probe finds lapses, but books no cop

“Be it the state or the Union government, it’s a government that killed 13 people, including my daughter. The (Union) government has saved the state (government). That’s all. Both the governments have cheated us. Do they think I would forget the killers of my daughter if they give me money and a government job?” asked J Vanitha, mother of Snowlin, who was killed in the firing. It may be recalled that when the firing occured in 2018, the government was helmed by the AIADMK.

Second supplementary chargesheet

On May 19, 2022, the CBI had filed its second supplementary chargesheet against 30 more people apart from the first two chargesheets. However, it did not book any cops or the revenue officials even though the CBI investigation was said to have found glaring lapses on the part of the police and the revenue department staff.

Recalling that her daughter wanted to live a meaningful life, Vanitha demanded justice for her as well as the 12 others who were killed in the police firing.

“She used to say that she wanted to pursue graduation in law and help the poor live a meaningful life. But they killed her at the age of 18. Had she been alive, she would have become a lawyer by now and would have helped the poor in getting justice. Now, I will not rest until I get justice for my daughter’s death,” she said.

Anger against CBI chargesheet

It’s not just Snowlin’s mother. Those injured as well as the kin of the people who died in the police firing are belligerent that not even a single policeman has been booked for the firing as well for the violence that broke out that day. “We all went to the district collector’s office to petition the officials to get justice for us. Now, the CBI also has failed us without booking any policeman. We are hopeless,” said B Muthulakshmi, mother of Ranjith, who was killed in the police firing.

“He was 22 when he died. More than a son, he was like a friend, a father to me. It’s been four years since I walked on these streets. How will I walk go back there without him? Nothing can give him back. At least justice for his death would be some solace for me for the rest of my life,” she added.

Another man who was injured in the firing and is now working in the revenue department, said that the policemen should be booked and action should be initiated to prevent any such incidents in the future.

“We were protesting for 100 days. Had the officials and ministers sorted it out before the 100 days, all these things wouldn’t have happened and we would not have lost 13 of our people; I did not want to lose a portion of my body. Only if the cops responsible for the killings are booked and brought to justice, such unlawful events wouldn’t happen,” he said.

‘Aim to kill, not control’

Quoting the CBI chargesheet as saying that the police firing was to control the crowd, Anti-Sterlite People’s Federation member Michael Anto Genius said the firings were, in fact, made to kill people. “Had it been to control the crowd, people would have had bullet injuries on their knees. But, none of them were injured below their hips,” he claimed.

Genius, who witnessed three people die in front of him, said that he couldn’t see any policeman close by. “I saw three people falling down after they were shot by a gun. The first person was Glastin, second one was Jeyaram and third one was my friend Ranjith.

“I knew only Ranjith then and the names of the other two people I came to know later. But, all of them had injuries on their head or in the chest. As soon as I saw Ranjith with bullet injuries, I searched for policemen. I didn’t even know from where they shot,” Genius said.

Seeking re-investigation

The anti-Sterlite people’s movement is likely to file a petition before the Madras High Court seeking a re-investigation into the case.

“The case was transferred to the CBI by the Madras High Court to book the cops involved in it. Because, if the local cops had investigated the case, they may not have booked the policemen involved in it. But even the CBI has done the same,” said S Vanchinathan, representing the movement in the Madras High Court.

He said that a lot of people had filed complaints against police atrocities on that day. “But, only one FIR was registered, based on a complaint from one Arjunan. However, they did not name any policeman in that FIR. So, once the court vacation gets over, we will file a petition seeking for a fair re-investigation,” Vanchinathan said.

CBI officials in Chennai refused to comment on the issue on the plea that the case was pending before the court. Tamil Nadu police also refused to comment. A senior police official in the rank of ADGP said he can’t comment since the investigation was done by a different agency. “Had it been done by the police department, everybody would have blamed us,” he said on condition of anonymity. “Now we don’t have any say over it.”

Also read: Anti-Sterlite protests: MHC orders stay on cases filed under CrPC sec 107

Meanwhile, on Sunday, hundreds of people in Thoothukudi remembered the police firing victims. They demanded that the state government release the one-member inquiry commission report that was submitted to the government on May 18.

On May 22, 2018, an anti-Sterlite protest turned violent with the agitators fighting pitched battles with the police. The police opened fire in which 13 people were killed. The protesters were demanding the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi over pollution concerns. The plant is yet to reopen.