Women block road to protest against liquor vend in Kangra village

A group of women on Saturday blocked traffic and staged a protest against the opening of a liquor vend near a polytechnic college at Talwad panchayat in Jaisinghpur sub-division of Kangra district.

The protest began around 9.30 am when dozens of women gathered on the Sujanpur–Jaisinghpur road, locked the liquor vend and raised slogans against the state government, demanding its immediate closure. Traffic remained disrupted for several hours as women refused to vacate the road.

The protesters said the liquor vend’s proximity to an educational institution would adversely affect students and promote addiction among the youth. They alleged that such establishments disturb the peace of the area and make the environment unsafe for the young people, especially girls studying in nearby college.

A day earlier, the women had submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Jaisinghpur, urging him to intervene and close the vend.

Upon receiving information about the road blockade, a police team from Lambagaon reached the site and tried to pacify the protesters. However, the women remained firm on their demand. Later, Jaisinghpur SDM Sanjeev Thakur and Tehsildar Abhishek Bhaskar arrived at the spot and held talks with the protestors.

After the officials assured the women that appropriate action would be taken within 15 days, they agreed to reopen the road and remove the lock from the vend.

However, women warned that if the administration failed to close or shift the liquor shop within the stipulated time, they would resume their agitation with more intensity.