After fresh violence on Wednesday in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), where 12 people have so far lost their lives due to police action, the Tamil Nadu government transferred the district collector and police chief concerned. While Collector N Venkatesh has been replaced by the collector of neighbouring Tirunelveli district, Sandeep Nanduri, Nilgiris district police chief Murali Rambha will take over from Superintendent of Police P Mahendran.

While 11 persons died in police firing, one succumbed to the injuries he had reportedly sustained due to lathicharge.

SP Mahendran has been transferred to Chennai where he will assume charge as Deputy Commissioner (Traffic-North). Venkatesh has been posted as Additional State Project Director for the implementation of “Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan” under the control of state project director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, said a release issued on Wednesday.

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The transfers come in the wake of opposition parties seeking action against the top two Tuticorin district officials over the violence.

While locals have been demanding closure of Vedanta group’s Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothkodi over pollution concerns for more than three months now, their protest turned violent on 22 May, which was their 100th day of agitation, as the protesters clashed with security personnel.

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The local police and administration have drawn widespread condemnation and criticism from all quarters, including the Amnesty International, over the action against the protesters.

The Tamil Nadu government has also ordered suspension of internet services in Tuticorin and adjoining districts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari for five days, starting 23 May, to prevent spread of rumours through social media.

Blaming provocative messages spread through social media, the government said in an order such messages led to the massive gathering of about 20,000 people in Tuticorin on 22 May, which subsequently resulted in the violence and police action.

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Noting that anti-social elements were trying to exploit the situation, the government directed nodal officers of Internet Service Providers in the three districts to suspend internet services till May 27.

The government issued the order invoking the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, saying there was a situation of “public emergency” which necessitated the immediate action to bring “public tranquillity”.

DMK and other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have, meanwhile, called a dawn-to-dusk bandh on 25 May.

The DMK had on 23 May called an all-party protest at all district headquarters on May 25.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, the DMK said instead of the all-party protest, a bandh would be observed on May 25 to condemn the police action and demand closure of the Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tuticorin.

“The DMK, the All India National Congress, the Dravidar Kazhagam, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the CPI, the CPI(M), the Indian Union Muslim League, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi will participate in the day-long state-wide protest,” said a statement issued by the party.

(With agency inputs)