A group of people who came to stage a protest demanding closure of a liquor sales outlet at Mudalipalayam on Wednesday, damaged a bar situated adjacent to the unit.
In a relatively peaceful manner, the protesters asked the authorities to close the liquor outlet, which was functioning for over a decade in the area.
The officials of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, who arrived on the scene, tried to explain that the shop was not situated alongside any highway and had been functioning at that location for many years, without complaints from the public. Suddenly, things went out of control as some persons damaged the bar, which was yet to open for the day. Furniture and soda bottles kept inside were destroyed by the people.
They made an attempt to open the closed Tasmac outlet, but in vain. The police were able to remove the people soon after the front shutter lock was damaged and thus prevented any loss to the liquor bottles kept inside.
The police took around 200 people into preventive custody to minimise the damages.
Action
Superintendent of Police E. S. Uma told The Hindu that CCTV footages at the shop were being looked into and stringent action would be taken against the people who instigated violence and caused damages to the bar.
