Demanding the immediate closure of two Tasmac outlets in Pamban, a group of people, including women submitted a petition to the District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon on Monday.

The petitioners said that the two outlets - 7013 and 7014 in Pamban threw all the rules in the air. The bar was illegally functioning beyond the stipulated hours. The workers in the liquor outlet allegedly encouraged middlemen to procure liquor bottles and sold them at fancy prices in the temple town - Rameswaram to the visitors.

There were two schools, a mosque and the railway station in the vicinity. Hence, people used the road almost from 3 a.m. till 11 p.m. daily. The Tasmac outlets were permitted to open from 12 noon to 10 p.m. However, the two shops had secret doors through which the agents purchased liquor round-the-clock, the petitioners said.

They also claimed that though there was a bar functioning, the men, consumed liquor and created ruckus on the public space. On many occasions, the women and children in the area had tough times while crossing the point. Despite repeated pleas to the DSP office in Rameswaram, no action had been taken till date, they charged.

Tasmac officials said that in the first phase 21 shops have been identified for closure in Ramanathapuram district and that the two outlets would be shut on May 21. Following the assurance, the petitioners thanked the Collector.

Virudhunagar district

In Virudhunagar district, a middle-aged man complained on Monday that a Tasmac outlet in Watrap, near Srivilliputtur demanded extra money from him when he visited on Sunday to buy a liquor bottle. When the man attempted to record the event in his handphone, a salesman allegedly beat him up and pulled off the mobile phone.

The man, who posted the video in the social media, went viral. The Tasmac officials in Virudhunagar district assured action against the outlet for physical assault on the man.