Thoothukudi firing: TN govt says action initiated against cops

Tamil Nadu government has taken disciplinary measures against 21 officers, including an IAS officer and two IPS officers, in connection with the tragic police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi in 2018. The move comes as a response to a petition filed by human rights activist Henry Tiphane, shedding light on the indiscriminate firing that resulted in the loss of 13 lives.A status report submitted to the Madras High Court revealed that disciplinary and departmental action, including suspension from service, has been initiated against the officers involved. The report specified that charges have been framed against the then district collector, N Venkatesh, under rule 10 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules. Senior IAS officer Dheeraj Kumar has been appointed as the inquiring authority to investigate the actions of the former collector, despite his denial of lapses in handling the situation.The report also indicated that explanations provided by key police officials, including the then Inspector General (IG) of Police, South Zone, and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Tirunelveli Range, are currently under examination. Notably, four police officials, including an inspector, have been placed under suspension, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against one of them.Additionally, departmental action has been initiated against seven police personnel and three revenue department officers, including two deputy tahsildars and a divisional excise officer, concerning their roles in the police firing incident.Henry Tiphane’s petition challenges the decision of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to conclude its suo motu inquiry into the incident based on the state government’s report while allegedly concealing the findings of its own investigation division.During the court hearing, the judges raised questio