The Director General of Police has issued a statement explaining how the protest got out of hand, necessitating lethal force by the police.
The press release from the DGP’s office claimed that the protesters repeatedly engaged in violent acts like hurling stones and attacking police officials, which prompted the police to use tear gas and resort to a lathicharge. After this, a section of the protesters left the spot, but another group organised a road roko near Theresapuram, during which they damaged public property and again went on a stone-pelting spree. As the situation was getting out of control, the police were forced to open fire. A “few protesters” were killed in the police firing. “Elaborate security arrangements are being made by high-ranking police officers. The DGP requests the people to give their full support towards maintaining law and order in the locality,” the release added.
Those who were killed in the police firing were identified as Jeyaraman, 62, of Usilampatti; P. Tamilarasan, 35, of Kurukku Salai; Shanmugam, 25, of Teachers’ Colony; K. Gladstone, 40, of Lourdhammalpuram; K. Kandaiya, 55, of Ceylon Colony; S. Maniraj, 34, of Damodhar Nagar; Venista, 16, and Anthony Selvaraj, 35, of Thoothukudi.
