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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Residents’ spirited battle against liquor outlets

Special Correspondent

They are located near the branch of a nationalised bank and a fair price shop

Raising their voice: Residents protesting outside a TASMAC outlet in Nallambakkam, near Tambaram, on Wednesday.

TAMBARAM: A few dozen residents of Nallambakkam village panchayat, about 15 km from Tambaram, staged a protest on Wednesday urging the Kancheepuram district administration and the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation to close down or shift three liquor outlets functioning near the Kandigai bus stop.

The outlets are located near the branch of a nationalised bank and a fair price shop. With scores of visitors thronging the outlets throughout the day, the customers of the bank and the fair price shop were subjected to embarrassment.

The protestors, mostly members of women self help groups, said that a large number of men could be found standing near the liquor outlets during any part of the day. Many men, under the influence of liquor, also harassed the passers-by.

Some of the men would even fall down near the bank and the fair price shop after losing consciousness.

“This is an eye sore and also harassment to women,” said M. Tulukkanam, panchayat president. Visitors to the TASMAC outlets also parked their vehicles haphazardly near the bank and the fair price shop.

As there were no other liquor outlets in the vicinity, people from places located as far as 10 km came there.

Anti-social elements visiting the outlets created nuisance to the commuters waiting at the bus stop and also picked up quarrels with petty shop owners, Mr. Tulukkanam said.

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