Madurai district witnessed a number of protests on Wednesday, mainly by the Communist parties and a few other organisations, against the police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi on Tuesday, which has resulted in the death of 11 people so far.
Around 100 cadre of the CPI (M), led by its R. Vijayarajan, Madurai urban district secretary, staged a road roko near Periyar bus stand raising slogans against the Tamil Nadu government for ‘indiscriminate’ firing on protesters.
Cadre belonging to Tamil Puligal Katchi staged a road roko at the venue over the issue later in the day.
More than 100 people from both the organisations were detained by the police.
The CPI (M) organised a protest in Samayanallur. Madukkur S.Ramalingam, State executive committee member, who led the demonstration, called for the resignation of the AIADMK government accepting full responsibility for the deaths.
Stating that the commission of inquiry formed under a retired High Court judge was unacceptable, he said that an inquiry by a serving judge of the Madras High Court must be ordered.
More relief
He demanded that the compensation announced by the government to the family of deceased must be increased to ₹ 1 crore.
The party cadre staged a demonstration in Melur in the evening.
At Othakadai, K. Kalidas, Madurai district secretary, CPI, led a road roko. Calling the State government ‘fascist,’ he alleged that it acted on behalf of the BJP-led government at the Centre and demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister.
He said that nearly 150 cadre of his party staged demonstrations in at least eight places across the district.
All of them were detained by the police.
