BIG NEWS: EPS EXPLAINS WHY POLICE OPENED FIRE IN THOOTHUKUDI

Following the massive outrage, DMK working president MK Stalin staged a dharna outside the Secretariat demanding the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to resign. Stalin, along with other DMK MLAs was arrested for the protest.

Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami met reporters on Thursday where he said that the Tamil Nadu government acted as per people’s demand. He showed few shreds of evidence stating that the Sterlite factory’s license renewal application was rejected by TNPCB in April 2018.

When he was questioned about the mass firing by police in Thoothukudi, he said, "First, cops lathi-charged, then they used tear gas. But when people started torching vehicles, to handle the situation, it happened. It's normal to retaliate when they were continually attacked. There were fringe elements that mingled with public and mislead innocent people. My deepest condolences to those who lost lives."