In March and April 2018 , there were renewed mass-protests against the company 's plans of setting up a second smelting complex and demands of an entire shutdown of the smelting plants , on grounds of violating environmental regulations were raised . On 22 May 2018 the protests took a deadlier when 20,000 protesters turned violent and subsequently police had to resort to lathi charge and shooting . In the event referred to as Thoothukudi massacre 14 people were killed and several others injured . Section 144 was imposed to control the situation
Thoothukudi massacre
Thoothukudi massacre
Sterlite Copper