Chennai: A day after visuals of a brutal attack by police on unarmed women and others protesting against the relocation of a Tasmac shop in Tirupur went viral, the state government on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that action had been initiated against errant Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pandiaraj. Also, the district collector has cancelled the selected site where the Tasmac shop was to be relocated, the government said.
Advocate General R. Muthukumaraswamy made this submission when a PIL from K.Balu, president of Advocates' Forum for Social Justice, came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar.
Recalling the brutal attack by police on women and others on April 11 in Tirupur, Balu in his petition sought a direction to the authorities to provide medical treatment to the victims Easwari of Iyyampalayam and Sivaganesh of Shamalapuram, besides considering the objections of the people with regard to relocating or establishing Tasmac shops. Disposing of the PIL, the bench said this PIL relates to relocation of liquor shops, pursuant to the judgment dated March 31 of the Supreme Court. From the averments in the petition, it appears that the relocation of a shop in Tirupur area resulted in protests and a skirmish. It was alleged that the police committed excesses, in particular it was alleged that one Easwari of Iyyampalayam and one Sivaganesh of Shamalapuram were injured.
So far as the relocation of the shop site was concerned, the AG submitted that the relocation site was cancelled. So far as the injured were concerned, they may be examined in any government hospital of their own choice and if necessary, treatment should be given and all the treatment expenses should be borne by the state government. So far as the errant police officer was concerned, advocate general submitted that action has already been initiated and an inquiry was instituted.
“In view of cancellation of the relocated site and the action initiated against the errant police officer and in view of our order directing the two injured be provided treatment in government hospitals of their choice, the petition is disposed of. It is needless to say that the liquor shop be relocated in accordance with law keeping in view the judgments of the court”, the bench added.
