Sonepur: Tension ran high at Badakhamar under Birmaharajpur block in this district as irate women ransacked a grocery shop in protest against liquor sale Tuesday.
Hundreds of women, mostly members of self-help groups, armed with lathis and blunt objects ransacked the shop and smashed liquor bottles demanding its closure.
The villagers flayed the police and the excise officials for remaining mute spectators in the face of increasing illegal trade of liquor which has destroyed peace in many homes in the region.
The agitating women alleged that locals were getting addicted to liquor due to its unrestrained sale at the grocery shop. They alleged several persons in their village have developed kidney and liver ailments due to liquor consumption.
Holding banners and placards the women raised slogans against illicit trade of liquor and later staged a demonstration and demanded closure of liquor shops in the area. They said they have to spend huge sums towards treatment of patients, affected by various diseases due to liquor consumption.
The women also threatened to launch a mass demonstration if the liquor traders and other persons involved in illegal liquor trade do not abandon their business.
“Women of our village have taken a vow to close all liquor shops in the area. If the illegal liquor traders don’t co-operate, we will ransack their shops. We also demand that the police and excise officials take legal action against them. We will picket police stations, if the cops sit idle,” said an agitating woman.
“Our families are facing several problems. Our men are wasting their hard-earned money on drinking. The future of our children is in dark due to consumption of liquor by the male members. The entire village is getting spoiled due to liquor sale,” said Sarpanch Rudrani Chand.
Officials of district Excise Department warned of stringent action against illegal liquor sale in the village. “Whenever we received complaints of illegal liquor sale in the area we redress it immediately. I look into the matter and take appropriate action after a probe,” said an Excise official Subodh Nag.
PNN