Thoothukudi Massacre

 May 22: When States became predators that performed massacres in both Tamil homelands. 

1958: 1st anti-Tamil pogrom that took over 1500 Tamil lives & left many displaced

 2018: Thoothukudi Massacre where 13 Tamils were killed & 103+ were injured by the police

ThoothukudiMassacre took place on 22 and 23 May 2018 in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Protesters, in large numbers, marched against the Sterlite copper plant on 22 May 2018. Police opened fire on the protesters, killed 13 people, and left 103+ injured. The protest was against the proposed expansion of a copper smelter plant run by Sterlite Corporation in Thoothukudi town. Protesters opposed the soil, water, and air contamination caused by the factory.

According to research by Tirunelveli Medical College:

• ⬆️prevelance of respiratory diseases* & ear, nose,  throat (ENT) morbidity in the 5-km radius of Sterlite Industries   *at 13.9% which was far higher than the state average
• prevalence of asthmatic bronchitis is 2.8%, 2X more than the state average of 1.29%
• Myalgia was commonly reported
• women found to have menstrual disorders such as menorrhagia & dysmenorrhagiae in this area

According to the report, the cause of all these health effects is due to the air and water population caused by the industry's thermal power plants and automobiles in the area. Iron content in the groundwater in the area was also found to be 17–20X higher than the allowable limit.

A report by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in 1998 indicated that the levels of selenium, arsenic, and lead were higher than what was allowed. The report also indicated dead birds after they consumed the water mixed with the effluent.  It also indicated that the process of cooling the effluents can cause health hazards to the workers & those who reside in that area. It also mentioned that the dug wells and borewells around the spot were found to be non-drinkable because of their high chemical content. Samples from a village 2km NW of the factory had levels of cadmium, copper, lead, chromium, and arsenic 2 -9X higher than allowed levels. Arsenic levels in the soil samples in the surrounding area ranged from 133 - 287 mg/kg, where soils containing more than 50 mg/kg of arsenic that was considered normal.

Another study done by NGO indicated that:

• higher salinity levels that can damage the crops
• water sample with 10X higher than allowed Sulfate level
• soil samples with an exceedingly high level of iron, if ingested by a child, can lead to poisoning

Another study in 2017 indicated that most of the groundwater samples in the area are highly contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, lead, boron.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) observed that the industry has been releasing poisonous gas into the air. In 1997, TNPCB asked the company to shut down due to sulphur dioxide gas leak which hospitalized more than 90 people.

There was another gas leak in 2013 and the plant was blamed for health issues observed in the area: coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, and miscarriages. Following this incident, then CM Jayalalitha ordered the factory to be shut down. 2018 protest was due to Sterlite's plan to increase the capacity from 400000 tonnes to 800000 tonnes per year. Knowing the impact the factor has on them and their land, people took to the street to protest. The same State that should protect them ordered to police to shoot them down. This DID NOT happen many years but in the era of social media where we witnessed the riot that was done to the people by the State. Though DMK talked about justice, after coming to power, they have done nothing to hold the perpetrators responsible for this massacre.

As we wait for accountability for ALL massacres, the people of Thoothukudi are still waiting...

We remember the lives that were lost!