CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced a judicial commission to probe violence that broke out in Chennai and other places on January 23 when police tried to evict pro-jallikattu protesters.Chief minister O Panneerselvam announced in the assembly that the commission would go into the circumstances leading to the violence.The commission would be headed by a retired high court judge and the probe would be completed in three months. "Considering their future, the government has decided to withdraw cases filed against 36 students who are accused of inciting violence on January 23," said the chief minister.Spelling out the terms of reference for the commission, Panneerselvam said it would probe if police had used appropriate force over the protesters, and if it was proportionate to the circumstances, and the damage to public and private properties. "Stern action will be taken if it is confirmed in the probe that police personnel indulged in such activities," he said.DMK working president M K Stalin had demanded an inquiry by a sitting high court judge into the violence and alleged police excesses. The Madras high court has also issued notice to the government based on public interest litigations filed on the violence.The chief minister said work on setting up a temporary fish market at Nadukuppam in Chennai, one of the worst affected area in Chennai city, would be completed in one or two days. A permanent, modern and hygiene fish market will be set up at a cost of Rs 70 lakh there, he said.

Source: Times of India January 31, 2017 09:56 UTC