DEPUTY CM TO VISIT THOOTHUKUDI TOMORROW

According to reports, Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O Panneerselvam will visit Thoothukudi on Monday following the withdrawal of section 144 order. The district collector had extended the prohibitory order following the unrest in the harbour town after the police firing.

Earlier, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, while responding as to why he didn’t visit the riot-hit town, said that he respected the section 144 order clamped there, hence he didn’t pay a visit. Opposition leaders including MK Stalin, Thol Thirumavalavan and Su Thirunavukkarasar visited the injured in Thoothukudi government hospital.

The police opened fire at anti-Sterlite protesters, who attempted to lay siege to the district collectorate despite the section 144 order, resulting in the killing of at least 11 people. Another youth was killed in the police firing the next day. The death toll rose to 13 when another injured succumbed to injuries.