Chennai: After two days of intense demonstration that claimed 11 lives, a weird Thursday dawned in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu where there have been extensive protests in opposition to a copper smelting plant of Sterlite Industries.

While protests against the plant - allegedly due to it causing substantial pollution - have been on for close to three months, the tipping point was reached when, according to police reports, 5000 protestors drawn together on Tuesday to march towards the construction site. It is alleged that police resorted to firing live rounds using battering rifles to tranquil the situation and despite absolute anger, security forces once again fired live rounds on Wednesday killing one.

While commercial establishments have remained shutting in Thoothukudi - the epicenter of the unrest, internet services too have remained temporarily put down the lid since 2100hrs of Wednesday. The local administration has said it would take a call on when the services would be permitted to resume later on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the state government has been lambasted for maltreatment the situation and for live rounds being fired on protestors. While 11 have killed in two days of protests, many more have been injured and are taking treatment in local hospitals where leaders like Kamal Haasan and Vaiko have since visited. CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami may have declared monetary compensation for kins of those killed but it is being widely regarded as a mournfully inadequate gesture. The Home Ministry has asked him for a thorough report.