Demanding the shifting of a liquor shop, hundreds of men, women and children staged a demonstration at Sholur near Coimbatore on Sunday.
Earlier, the villagers led by their leader K.Halan took out a procession from the village square to the controversial shop located on Ooty-Sholur road. They displayed placards bearing messages such as ‘Shift the shop and save the people’.
As a measure of precaution, the liquor shop salesmen downed the shutters. Pointing out that the villagers had been expressing their opposition ever since the shop started functioning there several years ago, Mr.Halan told The Hindu that since nothing tangible was done they were forced to take to streets.
Stating that the outlet of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) was subjecting the villagers to considerable inconvenience and affecting domestic harmony, village secretary Ramesh Bellie said that owing to the questionable behaviour and activities of its patrons, the residents including farm labourers were not able to go about their work in peace.
He regretted that the main road had been converted into an open bar. Students particularly girls were scared of using the road.
Tasmac officials headed by Assistant Manager Yesuraj held talks with the representatives of the village and asked for three months’ time to shift the shop. However, the latter made it clear that even a month’s time cannot be given and demanded that it should be shifted on or before August 15.
With the officials reportedly agreeing, the villagers dispersed.
