CM Vijay Sanctions Additional Rs 5.25 Crore Relief For 2018 Sterlite Firing Victims

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has sanctioned an additional Rs 5.25 crore in compensation to the families of those killed and people injured in the 2018 police firing during protests against the Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi district.

The additional financial assistance has been approved in accordance with the recommendations of the Justice Aruna Jegadeesan Commission, following appeals from affected families seeking enhanced compensation, an official release said on Wednesday.

As many as 13 people were killed in police firing during the protests held on May 22 and 23, 2018, against the Sterlite plant. Several others sustained injuries in the incident.

The state government had earlier provided Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the 13 deceased and Rs 5 lakh each to 40 people who suffered severe injuries.

After considering requests from the affected families, Vijay ordered the disbursement of an additional Rs 25 lakh to the families of each deceased person and Rs 5 lakh to each of the 40 injured individuals, in line with the commission's recommendations.

Of the total additional package, Rs 3.25 crore has been earmarked for the families of the 13 people killed in the firing, while the remaining Rs 2 crore will be distributed among the 40 seriously injured victims.

The latest announcement raises the total compensation for the families of those killed to Rs 50 lakh each and for the seriously injured to Rs 10 lakh each.

The Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi were held against the copper smelting facility's operations and demands for its closure. The police firing on May 22 and 23, 2018, resulted in 13 deaths and triggered widespread public criticism.