CHENNAI: Gandhian Sasi Perumal collapsed and died while he was holding a protest in front of a Tasmac shop at Marthandam in Kanyakumari district on Friday. He was 59.

Perumal, who attended the funeral of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram on Thursday, travelled from there to Marthandam to join the residents whose protests for removal of a liquor shop in the area entered the 1028th day on Friday.

Perumal and some other protesters climbed on a 150-foot high mobile tower. He fainted and was brought down by police.

The Gandhian was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

For the past few years, Perumal had been holding protests across Tamil Nadu demanding prohibition. Last week, he met DMK chief M Karunanidhi and sought his support for the protests. Perumal’s meeting with Karunanidhi happened a few days after the DMK chief had announced that his party would impose prohibition in the state if it was elected to power.

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