Even before the body of anti-liquor crusader Sasi Perumal is yet to be received by his relatives, another incident of protesters scaling a mobile tower for the same cause in Nagercoil was reported on Saturday.
Two youths belonging to Dalit Rights Protection Movement — Justin Sudhakar, Rajakkamangalam union secretary, and Rajkumar, Kumari East district assistant secretary — climbed atop a mobile tower near APTA Market on Nagercoil-Tirunelveli highway around 3.30 p.m.
Those who saw the youths scaling the tower informed the police. Personnel from police and Fire Rescue and Services departments rushed to the spot with wire nets and other equipment to rescue them.
The youths threw a leaflet that contained a five-point charter of demands to the government: immediate announcement of total prohibition; Rs. 25 lakh-compensation to the kin of Sasi Perumal; appointment of a judicial commission to enquire Sasi Perumal’s death; immediate closure of all Tasmac-run IMFL retail outlets near educational institutions and places of worship; and withdrawal of plan to open Elite IMFL retail outlets across the State.
The youths were pacified by Dinakaran, president, Dalit Rights Protection Movement. The youths climbed down the tower around 6.15 p.m. They were taken to the Vadaseri police station for questioning.
Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan said that a case will be registered against the youths.
In the wake of protesters scaling mobile phone towers, Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan has instructed telecom operators to erect a fence around the towers to prevent entry.
