On May 22, 2018, Tamil Nadu police opened fire on thousands of people demonstrating against the expansion of Sterlite’s copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi. The residents were protesting against the Vedanta owned unit accusing it of causing severe environmental pollution in the entire region. One year after the violent incident in which 18 persons were shot dead and scores […]
On 27 September 2018, Foil Vedanta and a coalition of organisations in London released a report entitled ‘Vedanta’s Billions- Regulatory failure, environment and human rights’ – days before Vedanta Resources’ AGM and de-listing from the London Stock Exchange. The 32 page report gives a comprehensive account of legal judgments against Vedanta across its global operations, and blames […]
Amidst widening state repression of the struggle in Thoothukudi, Advocate Vanchi Nathan, State Coordinator of People’s Right Protection Centre who also served as the legal advisor to the Committee for the Struggle against Sterlite has been arrested, as have six members of Makkal Athikaram who have been booked under the authoritarian National Security Act. Lois […]
On Tuesday 29 May, the allotment of land for the proposed expansion of Vedanta group’s copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi was canceled, “in larger public interest” by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (SIPCOT). In an official release SIPCOT said, “The cancellation of allotment of 342.22 acres of land has been made in […]
In Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu police shot and killed another person, 22 year old Kaliappan on Wednesday and on Thursday morning another person, Selva Sekaran, succumbed to his injuries, bringing the death toll to at least 13, with more than 60 injured. Lois Sofia writes about the ongoing attacks and clampdown on the protesters. Read our […]
GroundXero: The death toll rises to 18, according to unofficial estimates, including at least one woman, and at least 30 more sustain bullet injuries. The firing happened when the protesters from Thoothukudi went for dharna outside the District Collector’s office. This marked the 100th day of the recent peaceful protests, in Thoothukudi, against Vedanta’s Sterlite […]