Three people, including two police personnel, sustained minor injuries when the police used force to remove a crowd that staged a road blockade at Samalapuram near here on Tuesday against the relocation of a Tasmac outlet.
Superintendent of Police E.S. Uma told The Hindu that the police were forced to disperse the crowd after the agitators started pelting stones at police personnel.
“The police told the crowd to move away as they were reluctant to go even after the Collector ordered the closure of liquor shop No:2259, which was relocated from the Salamapuram-Karanampettai highway to a rural setting alongside Samalapuram-Ayyankoil road,” the SP said.
The crowd had gathered at Samalapuram soon after the relocated shop was opened. As the protest gathered momentum, Sulur MLA R. Kanagaraj, who was passing through, got down from his car and expressed solidarity with the protesters. However, a section of the crowd asked him to get a written assurance from the authorities that the relocated shop would not be reopened.
However, Tasmac officials said the relocated shop was situated 1.5 km away from the highway, and was opened only after receiving clearances from the revenue and police departments.
Meanwhile, a section of people have commenced a fast at Samalapuram alleging police high-handedness. They also demanded action against some police officials who allegedly manhandled women.
