Stir against liquor shops intensifies

Recently, the Supreme Court in its verdict had directed all state governments to shutdown liquor shops located within a 500-metre distance from State and National Highways. Following the order, over 3,000 shops were shut down in the State. 

The shifting of liquor shops to residential areas has been met with stiff resistance from the locals as they fear that tipplers will throng the shops and this could lead to a spate in the number of crimes in the area. 

On Saturday, protests were organised in various parts of southern districts. At Madurai, members of the Satta Panchayat along with residents of Ponmeni, tried to stage a protest against the proposed liquor shop but the police intervened and arrested them. 

Similarly at Dindigul, residents of Rajan Nagar staged a protest against the proposed liquor shop at Dindigul-Kanavaipatti road. The cops held talks with the protesters and assured them that their demands would be forwarded to the revenue officials. Following the talks, the protests were withdrawn. 

In Thoothukudi district, residents of Pudukottai staged a dharna in front of Pudukottai Police Station after a liquor shop situated close to the National Highway was relocated in a residential area. They threatened to vandalise the shop if their demands went unheeded. The police held talks with them and assured the protesters that the issue would be taken up to the Revenue Department following which the protesters withdrew their protests.