The decision to close Government-run liquor shops at Anaikatty, bowing to pressure from tribal women from Kerala who were on an agitational path for the last three months, has triggered protests from liquor consumers in villages in Tamil Nadu.

Nearly 500 tribal women in Attapady in Kerala were on various types of agitations, including hunger strike since February demanding the closure of shops in Anaikatty in this district, claiming that their male family members were spending their hard earned money on liquor by crossing the border, less than a km away.

This affected the family economy and education of children, as most of the money earned from daily wages or selling forest produce was spent on liquor, leading to frequent quarrels in the households. Kerala government has banned liquor in this particular area.

Bowing to pressure the District Administration issued an order a couple of days ago and the shop was brought under lock and key last night, police said.

Protesting against the decision, nearly 200 villagers squatted on the road and demanded immediate reopening of the shop. However, all of them were arrested, police said.

They claimed that people from Tamil Nadu used to go to Attapady and buy lottery tickets. Without bowing to pressure to Kerala, Tamil Nadu government should reopen the shop and also seek a ban of lottery tickets in the border area.

Some shops and traders downed their shutters in support of the protestors.