The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the police firing on people protesting against the Sterlite Copper Industry in Thoothukudi, Tamilnadu, which has led to the death of twelve people and injuries to over a hundred. The brutality of the state police is revealed by the fact that many of those killed and injured have bullet injuries on their heads and faces.
The protests arose because of the inadequate response of the state administration to the genuine apprehensions of the people concerning air, water and ground contamination. The Polit Bureau demands that plant should be shut down permanently.
All those responsible for this merciless shooting down of protesters should be held accountable and immediate legal proceedings should be launched against them. The enquiry announced to probe these brutal killings should be headed by a sitting judge of the Madras High Court.