Women thrashed during anti-TASMAC stir

Condemning the attack villagers began indefinite fast demanding action against the police officers and personnel concerned.

On learning that the new shop would be opened there, close to 200 villagers around 10 am, including many women, hit the Samalapuram junction where the Salem to Tiruchy Road intercepts the Somanur to Karanampettai Road. Samalapuram in Tirupur District (close to Coimbatore District) comes under Sulur assembly segment. 

The strength soon crossed 500, affecting traffic on the road around 10 am. A couple of hours later Sulur MLA R. Kanagaraj, who was returning from Chennai to Sulur with his family, was picketed by the protesters. 

The protesters picked up a heated argument with him, after which the MLA also took part in the road blockade. Around 4 pm the MLA told protesters that the district collector had given an assurance that they would not open the shop. 

Suddenly an argument ensued between the protesters and police. In a fit of rage, Additional Superintendent of Police R Pandiarajan slapped Eswari, a woman protester. In a few seconds, some of the police personnel launched a lathi charge. While many were attacked, a few of them, including women, were found bleeding as the police had hit them on their head. 

Four electronic media journalists, who were covering the assault on protesters were also lathi charged by the police. The affected persons were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. 

Agitated over the turn of events the villagers started an indefinite fast close to the place where fellow villagers were assaulted. They also pressed for total prohibition and relief for the victims of the assault. 

Tirupur Superintendent of Police ES Uma visited the spot and said the police personnel used force only after the protesters pelted stones at them. 

On the other hand, protests against efforts to relocate TASMAC outlets to villages close to highways continued at over a dozen places in Western Tamil Nadu for the 11th day in succession on Tuesday. Strong protests were organised at Periyanaickenpalayam and Sundarapuram in Coimbatore city, Thudiyalur and Pollachi in Coimbatore district. Protests were also organised at Namakkal, Tirupur and other districts in the region.