Forty differently-abled people have been detained after they began protesting at Triplicane in Chennai calling for curtailment on liquor sale in the state.
The group which included nine women were detained and taken to a community hall in Royapettah by the police present at the Labour statue near which the protest was held.
However, protestors detained have criticised the police for their alleged insensitivity in handling the differently-abled members.
According to TNM Deepak, president of December 3 Movement, a rights group, who was part of the protest, the police were ill-equipped to detain members of the differently-abled.
He alleged that the bathrooms provided at the community hall were not facilitated to help the disabled.
“People are crawling inside the bathroom, “ he says. He also alleged that the vehicles used to bring the group to the community hall was not disabled-friendly.
Speaking to The News Minute while under detention, Deepak alleged that the police had not been sensitised to handling them.
"The inspector stepped on my crutches and threatened us," he claims explaining scenes during the detention.
In January 2015, an order was passed by a two judge bench of the Madras HC consisting of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh. The order called out for the formation of a State Coordination Committee which would act as a focal point for handling disability issues. The order came following allegations of poor handling of protests conducted by visually-challenged students in 2013.
However, according to Deepak, no move had been made to take up the orders and set up a commission .
“We are no different from anyone else. We pay our taxes the same like everyone else. So why can’t we be given the same facilities that we require?” he asks.
He also alleged that the process of detention invaded into his personal space. “They are threatening us,” he alleged about police behaviour after the group was taken away during the protest.
The protest by members of the disabled community is the latest after separate agitations calling for a liquor ban began in the state. A dawn to dusk bandh called by various opposition parties remained restricted as party cadres from different organisations agitated near Tasmac shops, reported Times of India.
