Residents protest against opening of a liquor outlet at Samipillai Thottam, women protesters sit on a dharna

Protesters complain that the outlet was allotted in a residential area violating all rules; lending support to the residents, leaders of Congress and CPI also participated in the agitation at Kamarajar Manimandapam

Residents of Samipillai Thottam staging a protest in front of the IMFL outlet in Puducherry on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR

Tension prevailed at Samipillai Thottam for a while on Tuesday following a protest by residents against the opening of an outlet of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in their locality.

The residents of Samipillai Thottam had come together on a common platform to organise a demonstration near Kamarajar Manimandapam against the opening of the outlet on Tuesday morning.

As they gathered near the Kamarajar Manimandapam to hold the demonstration, some of the residents, mostly women, rushed to Samipillai Thottam and sat on a dharna near the outlet. Argument broke out between the protesters and police as the law enforcement agency refused to allow the protest near the outlet. Police argued that permission was given only to hold a demonstration near Kamarajar Manimandapam.

Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Member of Parliament V. Vaithilingam participating in the agitation organised by residents of Samipillai Thottam against the opening of an IMFL outlet in Puducherry on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR

After lot of persuasion by the law enforces, protesters dispersed from the vicinity of the outlet. The residents complained that the outlet was allotted in a residential area violating all rules. They continued to fight against the presence of the shop in the area.

Lending support to the residents, leaders belonging to the Congress and the Communist Party of India also participated in the agitation at Kamarajar Manimandapam.

Addressing the gathering, former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said the government was violating all rules in allotment of IMFL outlets. Around 350 new outlets have been opened after the new government came to power. In addition to opening of new outlets, the government had also given permission to start six more distilleries, he said.

Member of Parliament V. Vaithilingam in his address urged the Chief Minister to close down the liquor outlet as people are against it. “The Union Territory has already got a large number of liquor outlets. Many people have lost their life due to addiction to alcohol,” he added.