The liquor shop located in Anaikatty, Coimbatore, just 500 metres away from Kerala, is turning out to be a major source of trouble between the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with tribal women from the latter state resorting to agitation demanding the closure of the TASMAC outlet.

For two months now, tribal women living on the Kerala-side of the interstate border have been protesting against the liquor shop, since it has been creating health and financial problems in the tribal communities of Attapadi. Most members of the community are daily wage labourers.

The woman claimed that their spouses spend their hard-earned money on liquor by crossing the border, leading to daily quarrels in the family. More than 100 people in the community have lost their lives due to addiction to alcohol, they said.

The fact that Kerala Government has banned the sale of liquor has not shown its desired effect in this border district due to its proximity to the TASMAC outlet run by the Tamil Nadu Government.

Following the intensifying of agitations, police from both the states are maintaining strict vigil in the area to prevent untoward incidents.