Probe into police firing during anti-Sterlite protests

The Madras High Court has ordered a CBI probe into the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin in May that resulted in the deaths of 13 people. The Madurai bench of Madras High Court passed the order after hearing PILs seeking CBI investigation into the incident. The HC also sent a notice to the Vedanta group's Sterlite copper plant on a petition seeking Rs 7.5 billion towards the rehabilitation of people affected by pollution allegedly caused by it and relief for victims of the police firing. The Tamil Nadu government had, on May 28, ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests over pollution concerns. The company then appealed to the NGT, which had overturned the government order. The state had then moved the Supreme Court against it.