Women protest illegal sale of liquor in Baijnath

Our Correspondent

Palampur, November 9

A large number of women today lodged a protest over the illegal sale of liquor and drugs at village shops in Sheal and other upper areas of Baijnath subdivision.

The protesters took out a rally in the Baijnath town and demanded action against the shopkeepers selling liquor and drugs openly and deteriorating the social fabric. Despite the fact that the police was well versed with the situation, no action had been taken against the liquor and drug mafia, they alleged.

They said because of the open sale of liquor and drugs, cases of domestic violence and lawlessness had gone up and there was unrest in many villages. Though the sale of liquor was prohibited at unlicensed shops, some shopkeepers were openly providing liquor to customers. The women urged the Kangra SP to conduct raids at these shops and arrest the culprits.

Later, members of the local panchayat also joined the protesting women and submitted a joint memorandum to the SDM and DSP, Baijnath, demanding early action against the liquor mafia. The mafia had flourished in the area “with the blessing local leaders and police”, they rued.

It may be recalled that last month, women of other villages of Baijnath had taken out a protest march against the rising trade of drugs and liquor in the area. They had claimed that the mafia was exploiting young children, school students, and unemployed youth by providing them cheap intoxicants.