TN Police lathicharge over 100 CPM women members protesting against opening of liquor shops

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, May 08, 2020: Tamil Nadu Police on Friday resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd gathered to protest against the reopening of the liquor shops amid coronavirus outbreak. Incidentally, the police earlier lathi-charged people gathered outside the liquor shops for not maintaining social distancing.

In Madurai, over 100 women members of the Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPM) came out on the streets to protest against the opening of Tasmac outlets. Women raised slogans saying the opening of liquor shops was against the interest of the common man, IndiaToday reported.

 

During the protest, an argument broke out between the protesters and the police officials and finally officials had to use brute force to take the protesters into custody.

Madurai witnessed the highest amount of alcohol sales in Tamil Nadu on the first day of liquor shop reopening. Liquor worth Rs 46.78 crore worth liquor was sold in the Madurai zone on Thursday.

The protesters said that the opening of Tasmac shops will lead to further spread of Covid-19 disease and also lead to a waste of the money that is much needed as the lockdown has left many without much monetary support. A similar protest against liquor was seen in Trichy as well.

Women threw away the free rice given by the government to showcase their objection. Political parties in the state like Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi or Liberation Panther Party, CPM and Makkal Needhi Maiam have all been opposing the state government’s move of opening liquor shops.

While the protesters raised objection against the liquor shops as the crowd outside could lead to coronavirus outbreak, they themselves maintained little social distancing.

Since the lockdown, Madurai has seen multiple instances where social distancing norms were flouted - during the funeral of a Jallikattu bull hundreds had gathered. Similarly, during a temple festival, several people had gathered flouting social distancing rules.