Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Protests mar opening of IMFL outlets

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 29. With the State Government today taking over retail trade of liquor all over Tamil Nadu, sale at many Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation-run outlets ran into rough weather with residents protesting against the opening of the shops in their areas.

What annoyed the residents most was the setting up of the shops in predominantly residential areas or near a public fountain, a place of worship, a hospital or an educational institution. Tension gripped the areas where protests were staged.

The authorities had a tough time pacifying the agitators. At one place in the city, residents vowed that they would not allow the outlet to be opened at any cost.

According to reports reaching the police here, there were vehement protests against the setting up of a liquor shop near a temple and a school at a place within the jurisdiction of Upper Coonoor police station. In Salem town, there were protests at Ponnammapettai. Similar demonstrations were witnessed at Avarampalayam and Kosavapalayam in Coimbatore and at Mylapore and Chromepet in the city. The PMK women's wing staged Statewide also staged demonstrations.

Meanwhile, an official press release said that the Commercial Taxes Minister, S.M. Velusamy, oversaw the sales at outlets at Aranvoyal and Vengathur in Tiruvallur district. The TASMAC has opened over 3,100 shops, officials said.

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