Security tightened in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) after eleven people were killed on Tuesday in Tamil Nadu police firing during protests against Sterlite industries. Section 144(prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in the city. The agitation against Sterlite Copper, which represents the copper unit of Vedanta Limited, recently escalated after the company announced the expansion of its unit in the city. Sterlite Copper, which currently operates a 400,000-tonne per annum unit in the city, maintains it has received necessary permits and has not violated any norms. Police said nearly 5,000 protesters gathered near a local church and insisted on taking a out a rally to the district collectorate after they were denied permission to march to the copper smelter plant. DMK working president and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin condemned the "police atrocities" that took place during the protest. He is among many political leaders who have lent their voice to the anti-Sterlite protests. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami said nine people were killed in "police action" against anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin, and announced a judicial inquiry into the violence. He also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased.
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