Coimbatore: Enraged residents today ransacked a state run TASMAC liquor shop at Modalipalayam in nearby Tirupur, where it had been relocated a few days back from near the National Highway, despite their opposition.
About 500 residents gathered in front of the liquor shop today, ransacked it and threw out liquor bottles.
Police personnel who rushed to the spot, found themselves outnumbered and said they could not control the crowd.
They said the residents had petitioned the administration and officials not to relocate the shop to their area.
It may be recalled that a liquor outlet in Tirupur was ordered closed by the Tamil Nadu government on April 12 following outrage over the ‘assault’ of a woman by a police official during a crackdown on a protest against the shop.
The official’s act, caught on camera, had drawn strong protests, following which the District Administration ordered closure of the liquor outlet in Samalapuram, about 20 km from Tirupur, and ordered an enquiry.
The incident had occurred on April 11 when some people, including women, blocked a road demanding closure of the outlet, relocated to their locality consequent to the Supreme Court ban on sale of liquor within 500 metres of highways.
Following the ‘assault’, a section of the agitators allegedly pelted stones at police,who resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.
Yesterday, Madras High Court had restrained the Tamil Nadu government from opening or relocating TASMAC liquor shops along highways by reclassifying the roads, holding that the state cannot exercise executive powers to render a judicial order of Supreme Court ineffective.
It had said that the order would be in force for three months, or until further orders and posted the matter to July 10.
—PTI