(Image source from: newsxind.com)

A case was filed against Kamal Haasan on Wednesday for visiting a Tuticorin government hospital with his supporters while Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code was in place.

Kamal Haasan, a Kollywood star who now actor turned politician heads the Makkal Needhi Maiam (People's Justice Front) party, travelled to the southern coastal city to meet people who were injured in violent protests against the expansion of a copper smelting plant.

Several were killed in police firing - an act which Congress president Rahul Gandhi has described as "a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism." Fresh firing was reported today, and one out of the three people who were shot has succumbed to his injuries. The death toll has now climbed to 12.

"We must know who ordered this firing," Kamal Haasan said (before the firing that took place today), in comments published by ANI. "It is not me, but the victims who are demanding this. Merely announcing compensation isn't a solution."

The people of Tuticorin are demanding the closure of Sterlite's copper smelting plant in the area, alleging it was spreading pollution leading to severe health problems among the residents besides depleting the water table.

After meeting the victims and their near and dear ones on Wednesday at the General Hospital here, Kamal took off for Bengaluru to attend Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy's oath-taking ceremony as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka.

By Lokesh