Nine people were killed and 65 injured on Tuesday in Tamil Nadu after police opened fire at protesters in Thoothukudi, who had been seeking a ban on Sterlite Industries' copper plant. 

The protesters, who launched their protest many months ago, accuse Sterlite Industries of releasing pollutants from its plants and have been demanding the plant be closed. 

A judicial inquiry has been ordered into the incident by Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami 

The ruling AIADMK government has been widely criticised for the incident. 

Rahul Gandhi said the police's actions were "state sponsored terrorism". 

“The gunning down by the police of 9 people in the Sterlite protest in Tamil Nadu is a brutal example of state sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured," Mr Gandhi tweeted. 

Kamal Hassan's Makkal Needhi Maiam said, "The peaceful protest by the people of Thoothukudi against Sterlite, demanded justice was ignored by the Governments. Negligence of the Governments is the reason for all the unfortunate incidents. Citizens are not criminals. They are the ones who lose their lives, earlier due to Sterlite and now due to the Government’s orders.”

Rajnikanth tweeted:  “Tamil Nadu Government’s inaction is responsible for the violence in Thoothukudi. Tamil Nadu Government should take the responsibility for the loss of life, and violence in Tuticorin.”