Students and women’s organisations associated with Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India staged protests in Mela Ponnagaram and Solai Alagupuram on Tuesday demanding the closure of liquor shops there.
Members belonging to Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) attempted to lay siege to a liquor shop with bar facilities in Mela Ponnagaram.
The protesters condemned the State government and district administration for allowing the shop to continue its operation despite multiple petitions and protests.
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“It is located near a hospital. There are schools, temples and residential areas nearby. With the closure of many shops along the highways, the situation has worsened here with increasing crowd,” said R. Sasikala from AIDWA.
Meanwhile, another group of protesters, predominantly belonging to CPI (M), staged a protest near the TASMAC-run liquor shop with bar facility in Solai Alagupuram. The protesters, who marched towards the shop from a nearby street, were stopped by the police a few metres away from the shop.
The protesters raised slogans demanding permanent closure of the shop since it was causing nuisance to residents in nearby areas.
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The shops in both the locations remained closed on Tuesday morning to avoid any untoward incident during the protest. Huge posse of police was deployed in both the places. The protesters were detained and released in the evening.