Anti-nuclear protesters turned violent on Monday as one killed at the protest site in Tuticorin. The police foiled agitators' repeated attempts to lay siege to the atomic power plant here by bursting teargas shells and resorting to lathicharge.
The latest reports said one man, identified as Antony, killed in police firing. More details awaited on this.
The over 2,000 protesters fought pitched battles throwing stones, logs and sand on the baton-wielding policemen who chased them with many of them even rushing towards the sea.
The police action followed after authorities failed to persuade the protesters who, for the second day, defied prohibitory orders and stayed put at the seashore, about 500 metres away from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
Police said local Panchayat office and the Village Administrative Officer's office were set on fire as Monday's incidents marked a violent turn to the over year-long protest which had remained peaceful.
The protest spilled into Tuticorin, about 80 km from here, where about 500 people blocked a train for some time by squatting on track. The protestors also blocked Tuticorin-Nagercoil highway.
Condeming the police action, People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, spearheading the protest against KNPP, announced a 48-hour relay fast against it.
In Chennai, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa reviewed the situation with DGP K. Ramanujam.