UN experts condemn firing on anti-Sterlite protesters, call for probe

The experts have also asked Vedanta to take immediate measures to mitigate pollution

United Nations human rights experts have condemned the apparent excessive and disproportionate use of force by police against protesters who were calling for the closure of a copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi over health and environmental concerns.

“We call on the Indian authorities to carry out an independent and transparent investigation, without delay, and to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations be held accountable. The government should uphold the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as they are the cornerstone of democratic societies and a critical tool to identify and protect against business-related human rights abuses,”