The protests were marred by incidents of alleged “police excess” against agitating students
Women's organisations pay floral tribute to Sasiperumal at Gandhi statue, Marina beach, on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: The cry for total prohibition in the state grew louder with students in the city joining the agitation against Tasmac outlets on Monday in line with political parties’ demand.
The protests were marred by incidents of alleged “police excess” against agitating students and student federation members who were slapped with several cases.
On Harrington road, near Chetpet, students of Pachaiyappa’s College and members of Revolutionary students’ youth federation called for the closure of a Tasmac outlet. Over 100 protestors, including women, took to the streets staging a picketing on EVR Periyar Salai, blocking traffic.
“Puthagathai Padikkava? Sarayathai Kudikkava? (Should we read books or drink liquor?),” the agitators shouted demanding total prohibition.
In a few minutes, the agitation turned violent after the slogan shouting protestors resorted to stone pelting and gate crashing the Tasmac outlet near Pachaiyappa’s College.
Cartons of liquor bottles were taken out and broken on the road following which police lathicharged the agitators. Clips of policemen using their boots against women protestors went viral.
R.Ajitha, a housewife and a resident at an apartment complex nearby, told mediapersons that the Tasmac outlet had been a nuisance for the residents all these years. “At times, drinkers used to enter our apartments late night and there is always danger lurking around. Finding tenants too becomes a big problem because of the presence of the liquor outlet,” she said.
Police rounded up 30 protestors and moved them to another location. An hour later, the outlet shutters were opened. Two more protestors who were locked inside the outlet were also picked up by police.
Later in the day, student body members protested outside the Chetpet police station demanding release of the agitators. “The cops never informed where the arrested students were kept. After a few minutes, a senior police officer came out and said that 15, including five women, would be remanded,” P.W. Jayakumar Arul, counsel for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who joined the protestors, told DC.
“All the arrested were members of the RSYF except for one Pachaiyappas’ student who has strong ties with the outfit,” a senior police officer said. Nine students were let off with a warning. Nine cases had been registered.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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