Pallipalayam residents protest move to open liquor shop, disrupt traffic

NAMAKKAL: Traffic was disrupted at the Pallipalayam four-way junction on Saturday as more than 1,000 people assembled there to protest the move to open a Tasmac liquor shop and bar in the area.

Two months ago, the residents from wards 5 and 13 of the Pallipalayam municipality had submitted a petition to Namakkal district collector S Uma urging her withdraw the permission given to open a liquor shop in the area. They had staged a protest then. But despite their earlier efforts, construction work on the liquor shop building began a few weeks ago.

On Saturday, residents gathered at the junction blocking the roads leading to Tiruchengode, Salem and Erode.

The protesters said they would disperse only if the district collector met them and gave the assurance that permission given for the liquor shop and the bar would be withdrawn.

The Pallipalayam police arrested 27 protesters while others managed to flee the scene. A case was filed against the protesters for obstructing the traffic. The arrested people were released in the evening.
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