External forces were active at protest site: Sterlite Copper COO

Sterlite Copper claimed that the production halt at its Thoothukudi unit had led to a loss of over $1.2 billion

Days after reports appeared that there was alleged foreign intervention in the Foxconn protests at Sriperumbudur, Sterlite Copper on Thursday said there were possible 'external forces' active at Thoothukudi, prior to the firing that killed 13 and left 102 injured in May 2018.

"There were external forces at work, and not from Thoothukudi itself. The matter is under investigation by the government," said Sumathi Angusamy, chief operating officer, Sterlite Copper, adding, "We are seeing repeat stories in Tamil Nadu. The latest could be Foxconn."

Earlier this week, there were media reports, quoting an intelligence note that suspected a possible Chinese hand in