In Udumalai, Tirupur district, a public protest led to the arrest of over 50 individuals for blocking the Dharapuram Road seeking removal of a local liquor outlet.
Coimbatore: The Udumalai region in Tirupur district witnessed a significant upheaval as more than a hundred locals, including numerous women, took to the Dharapuram Road to protest against an NRC liquor shop located at USS Colony. Complaints had been surfacing about the disrespectful behavior of intoxicated patrons towards women in the vicinity, leading to a heated situation. The protests ensued when a drunk individual was spotted urinating in front of a local residence, escalating into a confrontation when questioned by a resident.
Amid rising tensions and physical altercations at the bar involving the staff and protesters, the crowd, fueled by anger, vandalized the establishment by smashing chairs and signage. Demanding the immediate relocation or closure of the outlet, the protestors staged a roadblock, causing a major disruption.
The situation intensified when DSP Sukumaran, heading the police force, arrived to mediate. Despite attempts at negotiation, the confrontation led to a forceful arrest of over 50 individuals, including a significant number of women, when the crowd refused to disperse peacefully. This aggressive intervention by the police has sparked widespread controversy and debate about the handling of public protests and the ongoing issue of liquor shop placements in residential areas.