JOIN USSix people belonging to Makkal Adhikaram, which spearheaded the May 22 anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), have been booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) by police.
Kaleel Rahman, Mohammed Younis, Mohammed Ishraf, Velmurugan, Saravanan and Sottaiyan, who were arrested last month for resorting to violence during protests that led to police firing, killing 13 people, are currently lodged in the central prison at Palayamkottai in the neighbouring Tirunelveli district.
The six have been booked under the NSA. Thoothukudi district Superintendent of Police Murali Ramba confirmed the action against the members of Makkal Adhikaran, the group that has been blamed for the violence.
Peaceful protests by villagers against Sterlite Copper had turned violent on May 22. Police fired at the protesters to quell the agitation in which 13 people were killed.
After the killings created an uproar, the Tamil Nadu government permanently closed Sterlite Copper through a government order.