Caught on Camera: Police Drag Man Out of His Home in Tuticorin

Protesters demonstrate against Vedanta’s Copper Smelter in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. 

(Photo: PTI)

A video, purportedly showing a group of policemen dragging a man out of his home, has surfaced from Tuticorin where 13 protesters were killed in police firing when they were protesting against the Vedanta copper smelter and demanding its closure.

The video, which seems to have been shot from a building across the road, shows two to three policemen waiting outside a narrow lane.

Seconds later, another group of policemen appears to be dragging a man, followed by a woman who tried to rescue him. Residents of Tuticorin have also alleged that the police have been going door to door threatening and assaulting them.

The Quint could not independently verify the content of the video.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, 22 May, condemned the violence meted out at protesters at the hands of policemen. He said that he was “deeply pained” at the precious loss of lives during the protest.

“The MHA has taken cognisance of the situation and sought a report on the incident and the prevailing situation from the state government," he tweeted.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami defended the police firing which killed 13 people and injured scores of others. “If someone is attacked, the natural course would be to defend and safeguard themselves. This is what has been done by the police in response,” he said.

Accusing the Opposition of instigating the protestors, he said, “The entire episode which happened was primarily because of certain political parties, NGOs and anti-social elements, who took protestors to a wrong path.”

Meanwhile, the situation outside the general hospital, where those who sustained injuries are being treated, remains tense.