First statement from Tamil nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami after the Tuiticorin massacre that left 12 protestors dead.


Speaking to news agency ANI, Palaniswami, said, "If someone is attacked, the natural course would be to defend and safeguard themselves. This is what has been done by the police in response."


He also said that when someone hits you, you naturally tend to defend yourselves. so on such situations, no one acts in a pre-planned manner. 


He said some political parties and leaders had misguided the agitators against Sterlite.

"The state government continues to respect the views of the people on the Sterlite issue. Opposition parties instigating innocent people to agitate. Thoothukudi administrators met agitators 14 times about the govt's stand. TN pollution control board didn't renew license for Sterlite," he pointed out.  


He said anti-social elements intruded into the agitation on May 22 and attacked the police, torched the police vehicles. "Under such a tense situation, police resorted to firing and the firing was not pre-plannned.  State government has been taking steps to close down Sterlite plant, through legal means," he added.

The death toll is now 12 after an injured person succumbed. Over 70 people were injured in Tuesday's protests held against the construction of a new copper smelter by the Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi.


No fresh protest has been reported overnight. Police have been deployed in large numbers in the sensitive coastal areas. Till now, 67 people have been arrested for indulging in violence.


Internet services have been temporarily shut down in Thoothukudi and will remain suspended for another five days in the city.


The agitation turned violent after protesters were barred from marching up to the plant following which they began to pelt stones and toppled police vehicles


On a more conciliatory note Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that he was deeply pained at the loss of precious lives during the agitation at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. "The MHA has taken cognisance of the situation and sought a report on the incident and the prevailing situation from the state government."


DMK working president MK Stalin was detained today after he held an agitation outside Tamil Nadu secretariat.