The death toll in police firing at anti-Sterlite plant protestors in Tuticorin rose to 13 on Thursday, as the region continues to witness unrest. The agitators continued to protest at Rajaji Salai after being removed from the secretariat premises and raised slogans against the government.

The police arrested over 100 people for rioting, setting ablaze and damaging public property, and assaulting police personnel. Cases under IPC sections and the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act were registered against them. Of these, as many as 65 were granted bail by a Tuticorin court later in the day.

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Normal life was affected in Thoothukudi, with shops closed and people remaining indoors even as the protest against police action spread across the state on Thursday, with demonstrations in districts like Erode, Ramanathapuram and Thiruvarur.

In Thoothukudi, police have stepped up patrolling to stop people from forming groups in public places while internet connection has been shut in the district and neighbouring areas.

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“Many students, youngsters are being thrashed in the protest site. We strongly condemn the inhuman action of the police,” he said.

Though The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has ordered the closure of Sterlite Copper Smelter plant in Thoothukudi, the public questioning about the lost of 13 lives whom killed by the police in the protest. The TNPCB ordered the closure and disconnection of electricity supply under provisions of Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1971.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. HRW is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angels, Moscow, Nairobi, Seoul, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C and Zurich. Kenneth Roth an American attorney who has been the executive director of Human Rights Watch since 1993 made a big statement on Thoothukudi Killings in his twitter page.

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India urgently needs investigation of Tamil Nadu shooting of protesters against a copper plant that killed 12 and injured 80. Video shows two plainclothes men firing at the protesters. https://t.co/Wfwpgx38RY pic.twitter.com/JBBq2seR6L

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) May 24, 2018

And Tamilnadu people’s depression reflected in his statement as well :

Thank you @KenRoth for atleast you took up this issue when our PM @narendramodi and our CM @CMOTamilNadu fails to care. They don’t have time to do it

— Jeev Shaw (@JeevShaw) May 25, 2018

Pls take further step as soon as possible to provide justice for the people’s of Thoothukudi and take necessary action on the police who act as a terrorist. pic.twitter.com/dSb7bPGh6N

— haters_be_cool (@msaravanan2424) May 25, 2018

Thank you sir, for your attention towards the mass shooting of innocent tamil peoply by TN police

— Ganesan (@yourganesan) May 25, 2018

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— தமிழரசன்அப்துல்காதர் (@tamilarasanak) May 26, 2018

State govt of TN acted as per the instructions of Central govt! Then how will they investigate?? Intervention of the world is required now!

— நரி RAJA (@Raj__08) May 24, 2018

Thanks Kenneth, Actually 3 bulls were sent inside the crowd to make people run. Moreover, the collector office vehicles were torched by mufty police

— stanley (@gstanleyjohn) May 25, 2018

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— Dhanu kavz (@DhanuChocoo) May 25, 2018

And Ken, you must take a campaign at your end to ensure #Vedanta group, that owns the copper field in Tamil Nadu, it’s owner Anil Agarwal, are both booked for human rights violations.

— RAJIV KUMAR (@rajrn99) May 26, 2018

pic.twitter.com/amI8z3wDuT

— Martin Ravi (@martin__ravi) May 24, 2018

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— Ramesh Himesh (@RameshHimesh) May 26, 2018

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— Ramesh Himesh (@RameshHimesh) May 26, 2018

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— TpanNava (@kayanav) May 25, 2018

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This documentary shows how a newly wed family man was shot dead while he was on the way to visit his expecting wife.https://t.co/XnC5u8POMu

— 紅 (@apsee4) May 25, 2018