Residents of Kaniyur today began an indefinite fast demanding closure of a TASMAC outlet at Karavalli Madaphur- Kaniyur Road.

According to them, residents of Anna Nagar, Sakthi Nagar, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Indira Nagar submitted a petition to the District Collector urging him not to allow opening of TASMAC outlets in their areas. “The Collector promised us that no outlet would be opened there,” they said.

“In spite of this, the outlet has been opened. Children and women are feeling scared to walk alone in the area. The outlet has become a nuisance as a large number of customers visit, especially during evenings,” said L. Manohar, a protester.

According to Jayakumar, the number of chain snatching incidents have gone up in the area. “There are a number of small scale industries here.

Many people, after work, come to the shop and drink. They are not from this locality too. The area has become very unsafe for old people, women and children. We are not going to give up till the outlet is closed.”