Interim Report on Thoothukudi Riots by VSRC

Interim Report on Thoothukudi Riots in Tamil Nadu 22nd May 2018

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Interim Report on Thoothukudi Riots in Tamil Tamil Nadu – Vedic Vedic Science Research Centre (www.vsrc.in)

Interim Report on Thoothukkudi Riots Incident:

A confederation of many village organizations, Church organisations and Merchants Associations under the banner of ‘Ban Sterlite Movement’, planned

to conduct a rally towards the copper smelting unit Sterlite Copper on the 22 nd May 2018. The protestors are demanding the closure of the unit for long and the present agitation is to mark the 100th day of the new spell of agitation started under the banner of Thoothukudi District Anti Sterlite Peoples’ Confederation (ஸடரலஎதரபமவமகளலமப)

seeking

permanent closure of this plant .

The District administration denied permission and invited the organizers for a peace meeting on the 21 st. The District collector requested the organizers to drop the proposal of marching up to Sterlite as the plant is now shut down and the protestors demanded that they should be allowed to march till the District Collector’s office , which too the Collector denied. The collector suggested them

to hold a token agitation near old Bus stand and the Merchant Association along with Ms. Fathima Babu, a College lecturer, who is coordinating this movement agreed. As a precautionary measure, the Police clamped 144 Cr. PC to prevent untoward incidents in two police station limits of Thoothukudi South and Thoothukkudi SIPCOT from 10 PM on May 21st to 8 AM on May 23 rd (Annexure I). It is reliably learnt that the Anti Sterlite movement on the 21 st Night removed Ms. Fathima Babu and the representatives of the Merchant’s Association from the Ban Sterlite Movement and announced that they will proceed with their programme to besiege the District Collector’s office.

The District Police and the administration never anticipated the horrific things to come and posted around 1000 men at the Old Bus stand area, the permitted venue of protest and another 1000 to cordon off the limit where Cr.PC 144 was 2


promulgated. The permitted, well attended protest went off peacefully at the Old Bus stand area, meanwhile 300 women gathered near the Church Complex in the New Street area where Cr. PC is not in force. The protestors started marching from there towards the Beach road, and people in large numbers joined them en route. The attempts made by the Police to block them failed as the crowd heavily outnumbered outnumbered the Police. Police. The Police Police then allowed them to march till the church christened, Shrine Basilica of our Lady of Snow but the protestors continued their march crossing the Church towards the collectorate. The police stopped the procession near VVD Signal and the protestors pushed aside the Police and continued the procession and yet again at this point too, the police are heavily outnumbered.

To disperse the mob, Police resorted to mild Lathi charge at around 10.50 AM and the crowd responded with severe stone pelting and murderous attack using poles and pipes. Unable to bear the attack, the helpless, heavily outnumbered Police force started fleeing the scene but where chased by the protestors. Public and Private properties including ATMs in the vicinity were ransacked by the protestors and the march headed towards Thoothukudy bypass. The Police men regrouped and rushed towards the by-pass to halt the progress of the arsonist but failed. Meanwhile, the arsonists entered the residential complex of Sterlite employees and set the vehicles parked inside on fire. A police vehicle on the by-pass was stoned and set on fire by the arsonists. The arsonists then turned their ire on the media vans and private vehicles parked beneath the bridge and set them on fire too. Unable to control the mob at around 11.50 AM, the outnumbered Police force retreated and the arsonists started attacking the fleeing Police men. The hapless police men have no choice but to open fire which ultimately led to the dispersion of the rioting mob.

Meanwhile, a section of rioters entered the collector’s office complex and

started torching the vehicles and damaged the glass panes of the office at around 11.55 AM. The police then rushed to the spot and resorted to Lathi 3


charge to disperse the arsonists. The arsonists again regrouped around 12.30 and started attacking the police men. The Police tried all means to control the arsonists and finally were forced to open fire to disperse the rampaging crowd. Even after this firing, a section of the crowd hold fort inside the Collector’s

Office complex and the police resorted to Lathi charge to bring the District administrative

headquarters

under

control.

The

District

Administrative

headquarters of Thoothukudi District was taken over by the police from the hands of the arsonists at around 1.30 PM. At around 4 PM, a group of arsonists were damaging the surveillance cameras installed in the Threspuram area.

A police party on patrol headed by

Thirunelveli Police Superintend Dr. Arun Sakthikumar intervened to prevent this hooliganism was attacked and the Police opened fire on the unruly mob in which one woman was killed. Mr. Sandeep Nanduri, the new District collector, who took charge on 24 th, confirms that 13 people died in Police firing and 19 are in critical condition and 14 persons with gunshot injuries. Apart from 13 deaths, 102 persons sustained injuries in this riot (Annexure II).

Background, Funding and Movers of the Protest

The agitation to ban Sterlite is going on for more than 22 years. The successive Governments in Tamil Nadu gave clearances to this copper smelting unit which was mired with controversies in many states started its operation in 1996 at Thoothukudy. This controversial plant was a money spinner for many Politicians, Government Officials, Civil Society groups and Church priests for long. The current bout of strike is to oppose the expansion of this plant. The protests against this plant were peaceful throughout and whatever legal or departmental action against the wrong doings of this plant is the result of this peaceful protest.

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After the demise of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms. J. Jayalalitha on 5th December 2016, the state administration has come to a standstill. Sensing this opportunity, anti-National and anti-social elements backed by foreign forces and political parties with vested interest started instigating the people to resort to violence and raise secessionist demands. The grand display of this nefarious design started from the state wide Jallikkattu protest in January 2017 in the famous Marina Beach in Chennai which was besieged for 3 full days. The demand for legislation for the conduct of Jallikkattu was out shadowed by demands such as separate Tamil Nadu, separate Tamil Ealam etc. This protest ended with violent Police action after a section of the protestors affiliated to Left

Wing

Extremist

(LWE)

organizations,

Muslim

Fundamentalists

Organizations and Tamil Secessionists (TS) outfits refused to vacate the protest venue even after Government Government legislated a bill to conduct Jallikkattu.

The subsequent months passed off with protests against Hydro carbon Extraction project at Neduvasal in Pudukkottai District, Demanding closure of ONGC oil exploration rig at Kathiramangalam, Thanjavur District, Demanding the reinstatement of a particular ASI official in an on-going excavation at Keezhadi in Sivagangai District charging the Union Government on imposing Sanskrit over Tamil in the findings, Opposition to Nutrino Research Laboratory in Theni District, Unfair treatment meted out by the Union Government in allocation of relief assistance after floods in 2017 and Okchi cyclone, Formation Formation of Cauvery Management Board and opposition to Construction of Container trans-shipment terminal in Kanyakumari District. A report on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and Muslim Fundamentalism (MF) organizations involved was presented

to

appropriate

authorities

in

the

month

of

September

2017(Annexure 2017(Annexure III). It is proved time and again, that the influence of Left Wing Extremist (LWE) organizations, Muslim Fundamentalists Organizations and Tamil Secessionists (TS) organizations are prevalent in the genesis, conduct and guidance of all 5


these movements assisted ably by the Churches of all denominations. The involvement of foreign hand in Protest against the Nuclear Power plant at Koodankulam in Thirunelveli District was admitted by the then Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh in February 2012 (Annexure IV). Dr.Manmohan Singh said that the NGOs in Thirunelveli and Thoothukudi District are receiving funds from Organisations based in the United States of America and Scandinavian countries. The money was channelled mainly through the church based NGOs namely Tuticorin Diocese Association and Tuticorin Multipurpose Social Service Society. After the devastating Okchi cyclone, the Church organized massive protests across Kanyakumari Kanyakumari District demanding increased compensation compensation for the victims and condemning the Modi-led Central Government for failing in relief and rescue operations (Annexure V). The protestors squatted on railway tracks at Kuzhithurai Railway Station for an entire day in which all opposition MLAs participated. It is to be noted that 5 out of 6 MLAs in Kanyakumari District are Christians. It is reliably learnt that Kottar Diocese Association and Kottar Social Service Society are the NGOs funding this activity. Apart from these organizations Mr. Jagath Gaspar of Tamil Maiyam is funding these protests. He conducted one fund raising event for Okchi cyclone victims on the 18 th of February 2018 at SBIOA school campus Anna Nagar (Annexure VI). It is pertaining to note that the General Secretary of State Bank Officers Association, Mr. D.Thomas Franco RajendraDev was in the forefront in organizing this event. He assisted Mr. Jagath Gaspar in channelling foreign funds during the Koodankulam agitation too. It can be seen from the CV of Mr. D. Thomas Franco Rajendra Dev (Annexure VII), that he is associated with the Left wing student organization Students Federation of India (SFI) in his college days and that association gives him the fillip to negotiate with Leftist Forces. Mr. Jagath Gaspar, who funded the Anti- Koodankulam Nuclear Power Movement Movement and presently funding the Church to instigate Fishermen to resort to violence over the issue of Okchi cyclone relief and Opposition to Colachel6


Enayam-Kanyakumari trans-shipment terminal, is funding the Sterlite agitation too. Mr. Jagath Gaspar has initiated the formation of WhatsApp groups to mobilize public opinion and funds in the name of Ban Sterlite Supporters. Incidentally, all these groups are created through a USA number and Mr.Jagath Gaspar is an admin in one such group (Annexure VIII). The infiltration of LWE organisations in the Ban Sterlite movement is recorded from the tenth day after the commencement of the present agitation in January 2018. The involvement of Mr. Ari Raghavan, Vanchinathan and Ramachandran belonging to the LWE organization Makkal Athikaram was vividly narrated in the Tamil magazine ‘Kumudam Reporter’ dated 4th May 2018. The Magazine further recorded the hurling of petrol bomb on the Sterlite Plant on 25th April 2018 and recorded the statement of the Police that more than 100 Naxals have infiltrated in the Movement. According to the article the Anti Sterlite protestors are now getting exposed to issues such as Hydro carbon extraction, Nutrino laboratory and so on (Annexure IX). The Deccan Chronicle dated 3 rd April 2018 stated that the villagers of Kumareddiyapuram objected to removing the bore well pipes and cleaning them would only help Sterlite, as after cleaning the pipes, the water may look pure. The villagers are turning so sceptical of the state machinery that even routine works seem “a conspiracy” to them, thanks to the leaders of the

protests who insist that people not believe government and government officials (Annexure X). The process of creating mistrust in the minds of the villagers against the Government is wide spread as the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) organizations fanned across all villages around Thoothukkudi. A villager from Milavittan objected to the rising of Anti India, Anti Modi slogans in a meeting organized to mobilize people in support of the Ban Sterlite Movement by some out siders. The villager further states that the members of Makkal Athikaram Athikaram suggested to the villagers that they can set on fire the office of the Village administrator 7


Officer as a mark of protest. In a mobilisation meeting organized in the village of Pandarampatti, under the banner

of

Anti

Sterlite

Thoothukudi

District

Peoples’

Confederation

(ஸடரலஎதரபமவமகளலமப),

one

lady

activist was inciting the mob to attack the police on 22 nd May and besiege the Collectors’ office. This video was widely circulated in the Internet. (Annexure

XI). Soon after the firing on 22 nd May, a Television artiste by the name Nilani appeared in Police attire, posed herself as a police woman, exhorted that the Government is doing ethnic cleansing in Thoothukudi akin to what the Sri Lankan Government has done in Ealam (Annexure XII). This video was widely circulated by the Pro-Naxal, Muslim Fundamentalist, Church based and separatist Tamil groups and it created a massive anger against the Government and again Prime Minister Narendra Modi was painted as a villain. Subsequently, the police filed a case against this actress who is seen in the company of Pro Tamil Separatist activists in other agitations such as Go-Back Modi and Ban IPL in Chennai (Annexure XIII). Mr. Samarendra Dhas, a person belonging to the

Foil Vedanta

group from

London visited Thoothukudi and addressed a secret meeting in the month of February/ March in which the leaders of the Ban Sterlite Movement participated. Mr. Samartendra Dhas has ensured all possible help to the protestors and a person from Orissa too participated in the meeting was published in Deccan Chronicle dated 20 th March 2018 (Annexure XIV). It is believed that Church of England, once an investor in Vedanta is sponsoring the group ‘Foil

Vedanta’ .This .This

evidently shows that this movement is governed by

International International Organisations Organisations too. The above mentioned Deccan Chronicle article dated 20 th March 2018 further states that Tamilnadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu, (Federation of Tamil Nadu traders’ associations) have stayed clear of it and even welcomed the company’s proposal to double the capacity of its copper smelting plant to eight

lakh tonnes per annum as it would lead to regional industrial growth, all-round 8


economic development development and increased employment opportunities. opportunities. In the month of May, the traders of Thoothukudi switched sides and they represented the Ban Sterlite Movement in peace talks. It is to be noted that out of 64 traders Union, 34 organizations are led by Christians. It is reliably learnt that the Church based organizations played a vital role to turn around the Traders Unions to oppose Sterlite.

Apart from International Christian organizations, all church denominations in Thoothukkudi

and

adjoining

districts

participated

in

this

Ban-Sterlite

movement. This was confessed by an evangelist Mr. Mohan C. Lazrus. Mr. Mohan C. Lazrus started his career as a humble evangelist and his day to day expenses were foot in by the local parishioners but he is worth thousands of crores in a short span of 20 years!. He is a central figure in the hate Modi campaign and in his huge evangelical meetings attended by thousands of People, he spew venom against Hinduism in general and BJP/ RSS in particular and exhorts his followers to pray for the down fall of Modi, Yogi Adithyanath and BJP. In one such meeting, he declared that churches of all denominations have taken up this Anti-Sterlite issue (Annexure XX) and it is learnt that Mr. Mohan C. Lazrus is another funding source as most of his revenue is generated within the country and it is easy for him to evade the enforcement authorities. authorities.

From the above incidents it is amply evident that this Ban Sterlite movement has got ulterior motive to create anarchy and lawlessness to destabilize the Nation. In this context it is pertaining to note that the earlier attempts of the organization Makkal Athikaram to create mammoth riots were foiled by the police in the nearby Kanyakumari District in December 2017. 6 activists of Makkal Athikaram namely Kingson, Maruthu Ganesan, Mohammed Anis, Aathi, Marimuthu and Anbu were arrested from the fishing hamlet of Neerodi for inciting and planning riots (Annexure XV). In the same district of Kanyakumari, the Police refused permission to an opposition sponsored protest in front of the collecto r’s office against the 9


proposed International Container Trans-shipment Terminal at Kovalam near Kanyakumari on 19th May 2018. The official communiqué cite that there is a possibility of people working against the growth of the Nation taking part in it (Annexure XVI). It is to be recalled at this juncture that soon after Mr. Udhayakumar, the organizer of Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy, who sphere headed the Anti-Koodankulam protest was exposed for receiving illegal funds from overseas by the Republic TV, he admitted that he is working for a separate Nationhood for Tamil Nadu and his response was greeted with applause by the Church and separatist groups (Annexure XVII).

In this restive region of South Tamil Nadu, during the commissioning month of Koodankulam Atomic Power Plant i.e. October 2013, a Sierra-Leone flagged US based company vessel MV Seaman Guard Ohio was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard Vessel and escorted to Thoothukkudi port on October 12 th 2013 for illegally entering into Indian waters. A total of 35 sea farers, 12 Indians and 23 Foreigners were arrested with 35 Fire arms, 102 Magazines and 5682 rounds of ammunitions. They were sentenced to 5 Year Rigorous Imprisonment by the Thoothukudi Sessions Court in January 2016 (Annexure XVIII). XVIII).

In this back ground, it can be concluded that this agitation is not limited to Ban Sterlite but is an opportunity for anti-National and secessionist elements to further their ulterior agenda. From the Jallikkattu agitation, these forces are relentlessly trying to create a massive riot with huge loss of lives so as to turn the public ire against the Government and to further their divisive agenda of Secessionism. The failure of the intelligence agencies, Police and the administration to read the situation or act on the basis of prevailing ground situation has led to this mayhem. This incident will be leveraged by all antiNational forces to further their ulterior agenda to destabilize the Nation.

It is to be learnt from history, that for political compulsion or the other, 10


whenever the Government yielded ground to the arsonists to diffuse the situation, it has played into the hands of the perpetrators of the crime. The horrific incident of Ambur were Police men have to abandon the Police station and to run for their lives lives in June 2015, the Administratio Administration n failed to uphold the rule of Law to appease the minority. It is to be noted that incidents of attack on Policemen and Government officials disproportionately increased after this Ambur incident.

The protests organized by these Left Wing Extremist (LWE) organizations, Muslim Fundamentalists Organizations (MF) and Tamil Secessionists (TS) are invariably associated with attack on police personnel. In the Jallikkattu protest and Ban IPL protest, Police men were attacked and these attacks were video graphed and made viral by these groups to make the perpetrators of these offences as heroes in the eyes of young people as done by Kashmir extremists in the valley. valley.

The practice of exposing the family details of police/ military

personals involved in operations and inciting people to take revenge on them has become a regular affair like Kashmir. The photograph of a policeman Raja Dheleban with his two sons (Annexure XIX) was widely circulated through social media and the post exhorted people to avenge for the killing of innocent Tamils.

It is evidently clear that the planning, execution, guidance and support of all agitations taking place in Tamil Nadu is with ulterior purpose and the intent is malicious and deliberate. deliberate.

In this regard, the Government Government has to act firmly

against these anti-Nationals and their cohorts to save India from another partition.

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Interim Report on Thoothukudi Riots by VSRC

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