The Thippanampatti villagers’ determined indefinite protest against the liquor shop near their hamlet entered the fifth day on Monday wherein a few women protesters tied noose around their neck to show that liquor was destroying their lives. The village lost its peace ever since the relocated liquor shop was opened on Paavoorchathram–Aavudaiyaanoor Road near Thippanampatti as tipplers caused a range of problem to the passersby. Consequently, the sleepy village has been witnessing anti-liquor agitation for the past five days during which protesters, especially the women, were staging a range of novel protests demanding permanent closure of the liquor shop.
To tell the world that no woman would marry an alcoholic, the protesters conducted a mock marriage between two men, and ‘oppaari’ (lamenting the death), tying of empty liquor bottles with ‘mangalsutra’ etc. became parts of their ongoing agitation. As the protest entered the fifth day on Monday, four women, standing on plastic chairs, tied noose around their neck to show liquor, was forcing them to take the extreme decision as they had lost their breadwinners. “Our earlier petitions seeking permanent closure of the liquor shop near our village have not yielded any positive results so far. Hence, we’ve decided to meet the new Collector, who assumed office today with our plea. We firmly believe that the Collector would order closure of the shop,” they said.