Tuticorin: A view of a deserted road during restrictions after violent protests demanding the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit, in Tuticorin, on Thursday. Over 100 people were arrested for protesting police firing on Tuesday and Wednesday in the port city that left 13 dead.
The authorities today lifted Section 144, which prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area, from Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, indicating that the situation was inching back to normal in the region severely affected by protests over environmental concerns.
Violent protests erupted in Tuticorin on May 22 as locals took to the streets demanding the closure of a copper factory of the Vedanta group over pollution concerns, leading to police firing. Over 100 people were arrested for protesting police firing on Tuesday and Wednesday in the port city that left 13 dead.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has ordered the closure of the Vedanta Sterlite copper factory after the board found out that the plant had been making preparations to restart production.
