Villagers ransack, set fire to liquor shops at Nuapada

Nuapada: Grudging over growing alcoholism among local youths and other anti-social activities, an irate mob ransacked and later set fire to two liquor units at Gadtor and Sakhator villages in Nuapada on Sunday.

According to reports, the agitators attacked a licensed Indian Made Foreign Liqour Shop at Gadtor under ward number 2 of Nuapada NAC. Later the protesters ransacked another country made liqour shop at Sakhator village.

Local villagers claimed that they had earlier lodged a written complaint demanding urgent measures for closure of the liquor units, but, since the district administration had not shown any concerns, they took the matter to their own hands.

Keeping in view of the palpable tension, two platoons of police force has been deployed in the area.

After the Supreme Court's ruling on ban of liquor sale within 500 m of the national highways, the shop manager Gopal Ray had shifted his outlet from nearby 353 NH to a crowded residential area of the NAC which was opposed by the locals.

"We opposed the decision to open the liquor points in the village but even after that the shop owner turned deaf ear to our warnings and that is why we resorted to take law into our own hands," a local said.

Speaking to media persons, the shop manager  said liquor worth more than Rs 37 lakh that was stashed inside the shop have been completely destroyed by the mob.

Meanwhile, police said that the anti-social act and violence by the local public will be dealt with stringent actions.