Pachaiyappa's college students protest against Chennai TASMAC shop; throw stones as shop downs shutters

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Students of Pachaiyappa’s College in Chennai protested on Monday morning near a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation(TASMAC) shop at Aminijikarai. The protest comes latest in a series of state-wide protests against alcohol sale in the state.

Monday morning saw agitating scenes in the locality after the students of the college, both boys and girls started protesting outside the TASMAC shop. A road roko was organised.

However, police soon interfered and engaged in lathi charge after male students began throwing stones and other objects at the TASMAC shop. Some students crowded outside the shop were then forcibly taken away by police officials.

The protests and consequent damage by students comes on the heels of Gandhian and prohibition activist, Sasi Perumal’s unexpected death while fasting demanding for the shutdown of alcohol sale in a liquor shop in Marthandam in Kanyakumari.

Following his death last Friday, a fire has reportedly partially destroyed a TASMAC store and damaged goods worth Rs. 2 lakh in a Tasmac shop, situated in a town just 7 km from Mettukkadu, Perumal’s home town. Unidentified miscreants are said to be behind the act.

Watch Sun TV's video of the protest

Anti-alcohol calls have slowly been gaining a strong voice in the last one month following the emergence of concerning videos circulated on whatsapp showing young children in an inebriated condition. On Sunday, an all party meeting was held with different political parties who called out to the TN government asking it to pull its shutters on liquor shops in the state.

MDMK leader Vaiko, who has also been protesting against liquor consumption attempted to shut down a liquor shop in Kalingapatti in Tirunelveli on Sunday, reported The Hindu.

Image source: "Tasmac2" by Sodabottle - சொந்த முயற்சி. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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