Four youth caused a flutter after they jumped into the Grand Anicut Canal to escape police arrest following a protest by villagers of Sivaviduthi and Ooranipuram in Thanjavur district on Thursday demanding the closure of TASMAC liquor outlets at Ooranipuram village.
The road blockade by the villagers on the Pattukottai - Gandharvakottai road lasted for over one-and-half hours necessitating diversion of vehicular movements and intervention of the police. Fearing police arrest, four protesters jumped into the nearby Grand Anicut Canal and escaped, police sources said. The villagers had earlier staged a road roko a few days ago demanding the closure of the two TASMAC outlets which were established on the banks of a water body at Ooranipuram. Following an assurance from officials to look into the demand, the protesters had given up the stir.
On Thursday morning, around 600 villagers of Ooranipuram and Sivaviduthi staged a road roko on the Pattukottai - Gandharvakottai road. Around 100 students of the Mela Ooranipuram Higher Secondary School also joined the protest. Though one of the shops was closed the protesters wanted the closure of the other TASMAC shop too, said the police.
Around 140 protesters, including 50 women, led by the Thiruvonam circle Farmers Welfare Association union secretary Chinnadurai were arrested. Fearing police arrest, four protesters took to their heels and jumped into the Grand Anicut Canal from a nearby bridge and escaped. Though their identities were not known immediately, police sources said they were not school students.