Sterlite Copper (a unit of Vedanta Limited). Screenshot from a Sterlite Copper video on YouTube.

Police in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu fired on a demonstration against the expansion of a copper plant that locals say is polluting the air and water in their district and affecting their health. As a result, thirteen people have died and more than a hundred were injured.

Protests have been ongoing since March 2018, and have seen families and people of various political backgrounds coming together peacefully. May 22 marked the 100th day of mobilization against the Sterlite plant.

Thousands of men, women, and children had gathered with the intent of filing a petition with the district collector's office, which is the seniormost executive magistrate in the district. Since there was no pre-approval for the rally, the police forces set up barricades and tried to stop the public.

The situation heated up and violence erupted. People tried to overthrow the barricades, a few set public transport vehicles ablaze, and police responded with a baton charge and tear gas. Then, officers fired on the crowd, killing several people including a 17-year-old girl:

Peoples in #Tamilnadu., protested over 100days demanding shutdown of copper factory owned by Vedanta. There was no violence or vandalism over 100days. On a sudden what’s the necessity for #MassShooting . All that we want clean air and water for next generation#SteriliteProtest pic.twitter.com/LKuP92KGbF

— சிறுதுளி (@itntweets) May 24, 2018

Since then, more than 100 people have been arrested in the port city for rioting and damaging public property. The government has ordered the suspension of internet services in Tuticorin and two adjoining districts for five days, saying it will prevent the spread of false information on social media.

However, some have pushed back against that explanation, alleging that it's really to stop the spread of police brutality footage.

Now you know why internet services blocked in Tuticorin ?? #Thoothukudi

pic.twitter.com/orynsc4YUR

— Rajasekar (@sekartweets) May 24, 2018

The troubled history of the factory

The Sterlite copper smelting factory, which is a part of Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Group listed in London stock exchange, started operations in 1997 and has a history of accidents, complaints and controversies.

In 2010, the Madras High Court ordered the plant to be shut down because of pollution it was causing. The Supreme Court stayed the order and ruled that the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute should inspect the problem; in that body's report, it mentioned threatening levels of copper, cadmium and fluoride in the groundwater in the areas surrounding the plant.

The factory caused further disruption in 2013 when there was a toxic gas leak. After a brief closure and a fine of 1 billion Indian rupees, ordered by the Supreme Court, the factory opened again.

Sterlite has applied for permission to expand, which the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board rejected. The Madras High Court issued directives to Vedanta to cease the construction of the second plant.

‘Thoothukkudi exposes the barbaric assault on these rights’

Videos have been circulating in the social media of police acting violently or cruelly with protesters, which has added fuel to the furious fire that is raging.

Cop caught on #video shooting protestors at #Thoothukudi. The #Sterlite plant is #India’s biggest copper mine complicit in #environmental degradation https://t.co/8NSvIAqnuK

— WITNESS Asia (@WITNESS_Asia) May 25, 2018

Journalist Anna Isaac from the Newsminute.com tweeted:

One cop prods the man lying on the ground and says, “stop acting, leave”. #SteriliteProtest pic.twitter.com/rcp6vWcsu7

— Anna Isaac (@anna_isaac) May 23, 2018

The police stated that they acted according to the situation. However, people were quick to question the police action:

This is wat u call self defence ?#SteriliteProtest pic.twitter.com/vGZvfIKP7s

— Sathish krishnan (@dancersatz) May 24, 2018

BlackDay for Healthcare,Environment & common people,If public demands closure of the hazardous industrial plant, they were killed by sharp shooters of @CMOTamilNadu. #Sterlite is more important than public Health & Sentiments #TamilNadu is the New Kashmir. #ThoothukudiMassacre pic.twitter.com/g3JIHdsjrK

— Harjit Singh Bhatti (@DrHarjitBhatti) May 24, 2018

Lawyer Malavika Rao tweeted:

My Constitution ensures a polluter’s liability for injury to people & damage to ecology. It ensures my right to protest. It ensures my right to life,livelihood,safe and healthy environment. #Thoothukkudi exposes the barbaric assault on these rights. #SteriliteProtest

— Malavika Rao (@Malspeaks) May 24, 2018

Protests against police brutality

Various political leaders and prominent figures have criticised the police violence and the ministry of home affairs has asked for a clarification about this incident from the state government.

People from various places in India have also condemned the police brutality and joined in protests. Journalist Revathi Rajeevan tweeted about a protest in Bengaluru:

Activists in Bengaluru protest against #Sterlite outside Vedanta office near MG road. 13 people have been killed so far in police firing during anti-sterlite protest in Thoothukudi.@CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/nVK933Fwdw

— Revathi Rajeevan (@RevathiRajeevan) May 24, 2018

And Aruna Chandrasekhar mentioned demonstrations in Ranchi, Jharkhand:

Protests in Ranchi, Jharkhand against #Tuticorin killings. Hazaribagh and Ramgarh police firings in October and August 2016 will not be forgotten. #SterliteProtests #SamePinchSarkar #EaseOfDoingBiz pic.twitter.com/sMXUG6YZAB

— Aruna Chandrasekhar (@aruna_sekhar) May 23, 2018

Meanwhile, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu has defended the police, saying they were forced to take action because “protesters resorted to repeated violence.” He has also announced compensation for victims of the shooting.