The residents of Kadalundi, responding to a call by the Kottakkadavu Beverages Outlet Virudha Janakeeya Samara Munnani, observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal on Tuesday in protest against the alleged assault on a panchayat member who led the anti-liquor campaign in the region.
Shops and businesses remained closed while vehicles were exempted from the hartal. Anti-liquor campaigners and hartal supporters staged a demonstration in front of the newly opened retail outlet of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco).
The alleged assault took place at 5. 30 p.m. on Monday when activists led by panchyat member P.V. Muhammed Shahid and others reportedly blocked a liquor-laden lorry at Manoor in the panchayat. The lorry driver and his helper allegedly manhandled the ward member when the protesters demanded that they should go back.
Later, a police team led by Feroke sub inspector A. Ramesh Kumar arrested the prohibition activists, including the ward member. The others arrested were V. Jamalk, Hebeesh Mambil, K.P. Jaleel, Hameed Pattathanam and Rehumathullah Thondikkad. However, they were released on bail. Afterwards, Mr. Shahid was admitted to a private hospital.
Anti-liquor campaigners have been protesting against the move to open an outlet on the Kottakkavdu-Parappangadi road. Unfazed by the protest, the Bevco opened the outlet on Monday afternoon. A posse of policemen has been deployed in the area.
Last month, a local group, Janakeeya Samara Samiti, had observed a hartal in Ramanattukara in protest against the reopening of a retail outlet. Decisions either to reopen or relocate an outlet are taken by the State government following the Supreme Court ban on sale of liquor along State and national highways from April 1.
