Odisha women gherao Excise office opposing liquor bar 

A liquor bar proposed in Balimunda panchayat under Basudevpur block in Bhadrak was strongly opposed by local women on Wednesday.
Hundreds of women led by the sarpanch alleged that the proliferation of the liquor trade is already taking a toll in their area. Opposing the proposed liquor bar, the agitators gheraoed the office of the Excise superintendent. 

The women alleged that the place where the liquor bar has been allowed to operate has a school, a pond, and a temple nearby. If the liquor bar is opened at the place, there is every possibility that the law and order situation could deteriorate and it would give rise to anti-social activities, they apprehended.

They submitted a memorandum to the Excise superintendent with a request to scrap the move. 

Shyamali Singh, one of the agitating women, observed."Ours is a small village. A liquor bar is being opened there. I demand immediate withdrawal of the government decision. A temple, a pond, an Anganwadi centre, and a school are near the place.”

She alleged that the village has already its share of woes due to boozers who often create disturbance and stoke fights while girls and women feel uneasy to venture out.

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Balimunda sarpanch, Namita Das said, "We all have come here to request the Excise superintendent to turn down the move. I had earlier written to the Collector not to allow the liquor bar in the village. But my pleas fell on deaf ears of the administration.”

Anita Pradhan, Assistant Excise Superintendent said, “A public hearing will be held on the liquor bar. A decision to this effect will be taken only after the hearing. The matter has been properly inquired. It is up to the government.”