Hoshiarpur: Shiv Sena Hindustan warns of protest over liquor vend near temple

Shiv Sena Hindustan has warned of an effigy-burning protest on Friday if a liquor vend located opposite a Hanuman statue on the Manguwal road is not removed.

Addressing a press conference, the organisation's state vice-president Rajendra Rana alleged that the liquor vend and its adjoining drinking area, situated opposite the Hanuman statue and before the Asha Devi Mata Temple, had hurt the religious sentiments of devotees.

Rana said the organisation had earlier submitted a memorandum to the district administration seeking closure of the liquor vend. He alleged that despite raising the issue with the Excise and Taxation Department, no concrete action had been taken. He also claimed that Excise and Taxation Inspector Amarinder Randhawa did not give any clear assurance regarding the closure of the liquor vend.

He announced that if the liquor vend continues to operate, Shiv Sena Hindustan would burn effigies of Excise and Taxation Assistant Commissioner Hanumant Singh and Inspector Amarinder Randhawa on Friday in protest against their alleged inaction.

Rana said the organisation would also submit a written complaint to the police and the district administration seeking registration of an FIR under applicable legal provisions. He claimed that provisions, including Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, would be invoked if any offence relating to hurting religious sentiments was found during investigation.

He further said that large numbers of devotees visit the area during Navratri and maintaining a liquor vend opposite a religious site was a sensitive issue. He warned that if the authorities failed to act, the organisation would intensify its agitation through demonstrations and other democratic means.

District president Rajinder Shinda, Bittu Langeri, Amit Rana, Aman Rana, Bhupinder Kumar, Aman Sharma, Raj Kumar Jain, Satish Kumar, Yashpal, Raja and other office-bearers were present at the press conference.