Punish tipplers with brooms, says Bihar women''s panchayat

Patna, July 31

A women's panchayat in a Bihar village has ordered women to punish with brooms people found consuming and selling liquor, while imposing a ban on liquor consumption, an official said on Friday.

It has also imposed a fine on consuming and selling liquor.

The move by the panchayat of Ramzanpur village in Shekhpura district, about 125 km from here, is aimed at checking the increasing liquor business in rural Bihar.

"We have not only banned liquor, but have also decided to impose a fine on those found consuming liquor and those found selling it," said Shama Devi, one of the leaders of the panchayat.

She said posters were put up on walls across the village informing people about their decisions.

Kalo Devi said that women are hit hard by the liquor business. "Liquor is like a curse for us. We have now decided to fight against it," she said.

According to them, the panchayat has decided to impose a fine of Rs 2,500 on those found consuming liquor and Rs 19,000 on those found selling it.

The decision was finalised after a gathering of village elders who were concerned with disturbances during marriage celebrations due to liquor consumption.

Sensing growing anger among women against liquor and in a bid to woo voters, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that prohibition would be imposed in the state if he retains power after the upcoming assembly polls. —IANS