The cop hit the woman with a lathi before slapping her as he dispersed protesters.
A woman protester was slapped by a senior police officer in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu on Tuesday evening. Additional deputy superintendent of police (ADSP), Pandiarajan, was seen in a video hitting the woman with a lathi before slapping her as he tried to disperse protesters. The incident occurred in Samalapuram in Tirupur, about 460km from Chennai, when a group of people blocked a road demanding closure of a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) liquor outlet in the locality.
Several others were injured when they were pushed and told to clear the road. One of them had to be hospitalised. A section of the agitators allegedly threw stones at the police.
The residents were protesting against the liquor shop that came up in the area following the Supreme Court order to close all liquor vends along state and national highways and those within a range of 500 metres.
The video of the incident has since gone viral and various political parties, including DMK, condemned the 'police brutality'. Shops in the locality remain closed today in protest. Residents are demanding action against the cop.
The assault of the woman was raised in the Madras High Court this morning by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy and PMK's legal wing member K Balu, who sought action against the police official. Following a special mention on the matter, a bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar agreed to hear their petitions later in the day.
Speaking to NDTV, Mr Balu said, "The woman has developed hearing problems after the officer slapped her. We've sought suspension of the ADSP and a direction to the state government that it cannot open new liquor shops without informing the court. We also want the state government to take care of her treatment."
Thousands of liquor outlets along national and state highways have been shut after the Supreme Court order kicked in on Saturday, April1. The court extended the ban to pubs, bars and restaurants near highways. It, however, reduced the distance from 500 to 220 metres in areas with a population of up to 20,000.
(With inputs from PTI)