22-5-2018 is an unforgettable day in our minds!
There could not have been anyone who could not have been moved by the unbearable tragedy that unfolded in Tuticorin that day. Yes! No one can easily think or forget that 13 innocent people lost their rare lives when the public’s biggest protest against the Sterlite plant turned into a riot and the police fired at them. At that time, one side observed that this shooting incident was carried out as brutally as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. On the other hand, if it had not been carried out, there would not have been 13 people; There are also fears that there may have been a risk that could have resulted in the loss of countless lives. In this context, the commission of inquiry headed by retired Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagatheesan, which was investigating the firing, gave its recommendations to the Tamil Nadu government. The Commission alleges that “the harm caused by the firing is more than the harm that could have occurred if the firing was not carried out.” Here are some of the allegations contained in it.
*Poor planning by the police. Failure to properly strategize. Lack of preparedness has magnified this problem.
* Firing is being conducted from a remote hideout without any prior warning.
* After the first firing, the protesters set fire to some vehicles in the collector office premises and some vehicles belonging to the residents of the Sterlite plant.
* Collector Venkatesh, who was in charge and authority in the situation of agitation and confusion in Tuticorin, did not hold peace talks and let Sub Collector Prashant, who is in the third level, handle the situation, is considered to have shirked his responsibility.
* At the time of the incident, the Tuticorin Nellie Superintendents of Police were not in the collector’s office and the IG and DIG, who did not know Tamil, suppressed the protest.
* Unacceptable to open fire as opposed to a violent protest meeting. Sudalaikannu single-handedly fired 17 rounds with a dangerous ‘self-loading’ gun. The Commission’s conclusion was that the police had overstepped the bounds of the 2 shootings and held both senior police officers and constables individually and jointly responsible.
Accusations are stacked like this.
Not only that, the inquiry commission did not spare Edappadi Palaniswami, who was then Chief Minister, and actor Rajinikanth, who had commented on the firing. Criticized.
Minute by minute high officials were informing the then Chief Minister Edappadi Palanicham about the incidents and the situation in Thoothukudi.
Edappadi Palaniswami’s claim that he came to know about the incident only through the media is wrong.
Actor Rajinikanth had suggested that anti-social elements had entered and attacked the police and later clarified that he had no basis for such a suggestion. The Commission has advised that it is better for celebrities and public life movie actors to avoid such comments.
The commission has also recommended 17 people, including top police officers, to take departmental action.
Prime Minister M. K. Stalin has announced that the criminals involved in this will be put in the cage.
Below you can see the opinions expressed by the public and those interested in public interest regarding this matter which has gained momentum.
The cry is still heard
David, who belongs to Nalumavadi in Tuticorin district and lives in KP Agrahara, said, “The Tuticorin firing incident is really unfortunate. The incident of 13 deaths in that incident is still in front of our eyes. The cries of the families of the 13 people who died are still in our ears. The protest was peaceful. They are mercilessly shooting and killing people who have been there. Justice Aruna Jagatheesan’s report gives us full confidence. A policeman has fired 17 rounds alone. Strict action should be taken against him. Similarly, action should be taken against the policemen who killed Jayaraj and Bennix in Satankulam. Actor It is not right that Rajinikanth made unnecessary comments about the shooting incident,” he said.
Marimuthu, who belongs to the commercial reddy area of Tuticorin and lives in Bengaluru, said, “13 people were killed in the firing incident in Tuticorin. Edappadi Palaniswami, who was the then Chief Minister, came to know about the incident through the media. It is not known how he became the Chief Minister. Justice Aruna Jagatheesan said in the report. It has been said that departmental action should be taken against 17 people. Tamilnadu government should not let those 17 people go. Strict action should be taken against them. The policeman who shot 17 rounds while standing alone should be sentenced to death in jail. It is appropriate,” he said.
Action against wrongdoers
Mesiah, a resident of Thoothukudi Kee Vella Mutt, who lives in Bengaluru, said, “It is wrong to say that many more lives would have been lost if the shooting incident had not taken place. People protested peacefully for 99 days. On the 100th day of the protest, they went to protest in front of Sterlite. They should enter the plant. “This is not the intention of the people. There is no chance of the shooting incident happening without the knowledge of the officers. Strict action should be taken against the officers involved in the incident. Then other officers who think of doing wrong will be afraid,” he said. Florence Lenin, a teacher from Nazareth, who lives in Bengaluru, said, “The tragic incident of 13 people who died in Tuticorin shooting is still scarred in my mind. The government should give hope to the families of the 13 people by giving severe punishment to the culprits. The value of 13 lives is precious. Who has the right to take life? “I don’t know that he gave it. Judge Aruna Jagadeesan has conducted an investigation in an excellent manner and submitted a report. Thanks to him. The government should not let off the wrongdoers easily. Action should be taken against them,” he said.
Indira from Satankulam said, “Tamil Nadu government should not let anyone involved in the shooting incident go idle. Action should also be taken against Edappadi Palaniswami. Not one, not two, but 13 lives were lost. A young girl named Snowlin was killed before she started her life. Those who did this heinous act should not be spared. The government should support the families of the deceased,” he said.
A case of murder should be registered
Human rights activist Narasimhamurthy said, “The people of the area protested peacefully against the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi. The police fired on those people and killed 13 people unjustly. I protested in Bengaluru to condemn this incident. I urged action against the wrongdoers. Aruna Jagadeesan Commission on this incident.” He has given his statement and said that he came to know about the incident on television
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami said.
But the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission has said that it is wrong. Can the Chief Minister of a state say so? When such incidents take place, the same will be intimated to the Chief Minister in advance. That’s what the intelligence police is for. Information shall be compulsorily communicated to the Chief Minister wherever he leaves the State. Also, a case of murder should be registered against the Tirunelveli District Collector who was present in the incident of shooting people who were protesting. Not only that, the shooter and the police officers involved should also be booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder and appropriate action should be taken.
Aruna Jagadeesan Commission recommendations should be implemented as such. The wrongdoers should be punished and taught a proper lesson. He said that the action taken by the Tamil Nadu government against them should set an example so that such incidents do not take place in any corner of the country not only in Tamil Nadu in the future.”
Action is unnecessary
Vijayan, a retired police officer living in Bharatinagar, Bengaluru, said, ’13 people were killed in the firing incident during the protest against the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi. I came to know about this shooting incident only through the information in newspapers and television channels.
It is unnecessary to take action against police officers or other officials in this matter. The Sterlite plant has provided employment opportunities to many people in the area and the standard of living has also improved. It is true that the environment in those areas has also been affected by that plant. So it is important to ensure that such shooting incidents do not take place in Tamil Nadu in the coming days. That is the necessary one. At the same time, it is also necessary to provide appropriate relief funds to the families of the victims of the shooting.
Retired soldier
A retired army soldier living in Bengaluru who did not want to be named said, “The Thoothukudi firing incident is a black episode. People are fighting for a problem. They should be called and negotiated and a solution should be found.
But to shoot a sparrow is inhumane. We should ensure that such actions do not take place in the future,” he said.