Lost hearing power: Slap victim

“I wanted the shop in our village to be closed. Now I am determined to fight for total prohibition in the State,” the 45-year-old power loom worker P Eswari of Iyyampalayam near Samalapuram told DTNext.

She is unable to hear properly with her left ear and left cheek found swollen due to the slap by the Additional Superintendent of Police (ADSP) A Pandiarajan. “I am also not able to turn easily while sleeping, as my left leg is swollen due to beating with the lathi,” she said. 

Eswari, mother of two (sons), took part in the protest as she and her family had suffered because of her husband Palanisamy’s addiction to alcohol. “I feared that my husband would waste more money on liquor if the shop was opened here,” she said. She recalled that the protest was a silent one from 10 am to 5 pm and Sulur MLA R Kanagaraj, who was picketed by them, also joined the protest. 

“The MLA said that the shop will be closed and asked us to leave. Escorted by the police the MLA was returning to his car. I and a few women asked him to give it in writing that the shop will be closed. The police started attacking just seconds after the MLA left,” the woman who was the first victim of the assault said. 

“Without any reason the ADSP beat me on my leg with a lathi. Shocked, I caught hold of it with my hand for protection. Agitated over my act the officer left the lathi, slapped me and hit a few others as well. His subordinates also began attacking protesters,” she said. 

She was later given first aid in a hospital on Tuesday evening.