Six days after Gandhian and prohibition campaigner, Sasi Perumal died in the midst of a protest atop a mobile phone tower in Kanyakumar, his family has agreed to receive his body.
Perumal’s son, S Vivek has been on indefinite fast ever since the 59 year-old campaigner died while demanding the closure of a Tasmac shop in the vicinity of an educational establishment. However, according to reports, the decision to accept the body was taken after a number of leaders belonging to various political parties requested Perumal’s family to agree.
Leaders Vaiko of the MDMK, Thol Thirumavalavan of the VCK and G Ramakrishnan CPI(M) visited and spoke to Vivek in his village for over two hours on Thursday convincing him on the need to receive the body of Sasi Perumal which was slowly decomposing.
The final rites are set to take place on Friday morning in Perumal’s native village, Mettakkadu.
Vivek who is on indefinite fast will continue his fast until the final rites are performed. The body is to be buried within the same campus as his house in the village, reported The Hindu.
Tasmac shops provided protection after sporadic protests. Image courtesy: @mohazamil
Protests increase across the state
However, protests have been continuing across the state. Disability rights activists who had earlier on Tuesday protested demanding implementation of prohibition in the state continue to agitate in Chennai on the third day.
Vijayakanth has been detained for being a part of a human chain calling for liquor prohibition held without police permission. He along with his wife, and others were taken away on Thursday evening.
Following protests by students of Pachaiyappa’s College in Chennai, other students from schools and colleges across the state have embarked on protests demanding the shutdown of Tasmac shops. While classes have been stopped, students were seen protesting calling for action from the government.
Students have also demanded the release of some students of Pachaiyappa’s college who had been arrested on Monday while conducting anti-liquor protests in Chennai, said reports.