Pangi women protest against liquor vend, block road

Findru village in the remote Pangi sub-division witnessed a demonstration on Tuesday as women from the local Mahila Mandal staged a three-hour road blockade demanding closure of a liquor vend opened along the Tandi-Killard-Sansari road. The protest, which began early morning, was the culmination of nearly four months of growing frustration among the villagers, especially the women, who have submitted multiple written complaints and memorandums to the local administration without any result.

The liquor shop, located on the roadside in Seri, under Findru gram panchayat, has drawn strong opposition from the villagers who claim it is pushing youth towards alcohol and harming their social fabric as well as farmland. The villagers have been opposing the opening of the vend on the main road since March.

“Empty liquor bottles are thrown into our fields, damaging crops. Youth are getting addicted and it's becoming difficult to protect our children from the growing culture of alcoholism,” said Sardei, president of the Findru Mahila Mandal. “We have submitted memorandums in December, then again in February, March, and the first week of May. When no action was taken, we had no choice but to take to the road,” she added.

As women occupied the road, long queues of vehicles began to gather on either side, including buses heading from Killar to Kullu and those arriving from nearby villages. Private vehicles and essential supply vehicles were also stalled. Despite the disruption, the protest remained peaceful.

Local leaders supported the women’s stance. “Liquor bottles are not only thrown in fields but also into the surrounding forests, damaging cedar, walnut and other trees. The glass shards are dangerous to people, animals, crops and the environment,” said local panchayat pradhan Ishwar Dutt. He also expressed concern that the presence of drunk individuals near the main road was frightening children, making them hesitant to attend school.

The situation was temporarily resolved when SDM Raman Gharsangi reached the spot and assured the protesters that the Assistant Commissioner of Excise from Mandi had been dispatched to Pangi and would soon arrive to discuss the issue. “A meeting will be held with the women to find a resolution,” said the SDM.

Following the assurance, the women lifted the blockade and traffic resumed after three hours of disruption. However, the protesters remain wary and have stated that if decisive action is not taken, they will be forced to escalate their agitation. “The government has closed liquor shops in Saichu Nala and Purthi in the past. Why is Findru being treated differently?” asked the women.