Women power stalls launch of TASMAC shop

ARIYALUR: It was women power to the fore at the ‘opening’ of a TASMAC shop at Silakall village in the district on Sunday. Women came in droves for the inaugural function and dared the officials to launch the shop. Many of them even carried kerosene in cans, much to the discomfort of the officials present. Of course, the women had the support of men.Over 50 women and hundreds of men came to the location and threatened the officials as they felt the shop would promote alcoholism. Womenfolk maintained that their family members were not into drinking now, but the opening of the TASMAC shop would probably make many of them drunkards. They even threatened to set themselves on fire by pouring kerosene if the officials inaugurated the shop, the police added.As the situation became tense, T Pazhur Police Inspector Gunasekaran held talks with the agitators, but without much success. Subsequently, Jayamkondam Deputy Superintendent of Police Chellamuthu and Ariyalur Tahsildar Ponmudy visited the spot and tried to pacify the residents. But that also did not work out.Later, the officials asked the public to submit a petition to  Collector Anu George to take a decision on whether the TASMAC shop should be opened or not.  It is said that the villagers had, in a similar fashion, prevented the officials from opening a TASMAC shop in the area some seven years ago.