The anti-Sterlite protests which entered the 100th day on Tuesday, May 22, turned violent after protesters clashed with police before the collectorate's office.
Police, anticipating violence, declared Section 144 of IPC in Thoothukudi, TN. Protesters were, however, determined to carry out their agitation and thus ransacked the Collectorate's office. The police started lathi-charging at the protesters who in turn hurled stones at the policemen and tried toppling their vans.
When the police saw the situation going out of hand, they called in additional reinforcements and also fired at the unruly crowd, killing one in the process.
DMK working president MK Stalin condemned the police atrocities after the opposition parties met.
People have been protesting against the Sterlite since the 1990s now.
In fact, in 2013, Sterlite was ordered by Supreme Court to pay a fine of Rs 100 crore, for causing widespread damage to the water and land in the area, owing to a gas leak.