Anti-liquor stir intensifies, protest in TN turns violent

Agitations seeking total prohibition in Tamil Nadu intensified on Sunday in the state with a protest by local people and MDMK in Tirunelveli district turning violent.

The protests took place even as support for an August 4 bandh call grew over the issue.

Police lobbed tear-gas shells and lathi-charged protesters after a scuffle broke out between them. It was not immediately clear as to the number of persons injured.

Police <g data-gr-id="25">said,</g> scores of people had been arrested for indulging in violence. The protests against state-run <g data-gr-id="23">liqour</g> outlets gained momentum on Sunday, two days after the death of Gandhian Sasi Perumal in Kanyakumari district during a stir against a liquor outlet.

In Tirunelveli District, a protest by locals and MDMK, seeking closure of a TASMAC outlet in Kalingapatti turned violent as alcoholic beverages in the outlet were brought to the road, broken and smashed by angry protesters.

Vaiko who led the stir and local people later blocked road traffic <g data-gr-id="36">to protest against the police action</g>. Vaiko’s 99-year-old mother had led the protests on Saturday.

An MDMK functionary on the spot alleged that the manner in which police handled the situation “is the reason” for the scenario. A tear-gas canister almost fell on Vaiko, he told PTI. Senior police officials are on their way to the spot.

“Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalam has expressed solidarity for the protest, he is with us,” the functionary said.