Officials: 9 anti-pollution protesters killed in south India
NEW DELHI — Police opened fire Tuesday on protesters demanding the closure of a south Indian copper plant, killing nine people, officials said. Dozens more people were reportedly injured.
The violence came amid months of protests against the Sterlite copper smelting plant in the town of Tuticorin, which demonstrators say has polluted the area’s groundwater and put local fisheries at risk.
On Tuesday the demonstrations turned violent, with media reports and officials saying protesters began rampaging through the town, pelting police with stones, overturning cars and setting fires.
“The police had to take action under unavoidable circumstances to protect public life and property,” said K. Palaniswami, the top official in Tamil Nadu state.