Residents, mostly women, from Naripallam in Odanthurai Panchayat, Mettupalayam, staged a protest on Saturday morning opposing the move to open a liquor outlet in the locality.
According to sources, following a Madras High Court direction ordering closure of shops on highways, the TASMAC administration decided to shift a shop on the Mettupalayam-Ooty Main Road and place it at Naripallam.
The women, who heard of the move, gathered in large numbers and staged a protest. They said that the locality of over 500 families would be troubled if the TASMAC administration were to establish the liquor outlet there.
The women worked as daily wagers in various industries. They returned home at night. Their security would be compromised if the TASMAC administration opened the liquor outlet there. Besides, there were bound to be frequent quarrels between the tipplers and residents as they were known to pick up brawls in inebriated condition.
There were incidences of the tipplers misbehaving with residents and women near the liquor outlets.
On hearing about the residents’ protest, Mettupalayam police rushed to the spot. The TASMAC administration officials also joined the police. After an assurance from the officials that they would look for an alternative site, the women gave up their protest.
