Women up the ante, ransack illegal liquor shop

Paradip: A group of women demolished an illegal liquor shop at Sukhuakhala slum in Paradip today, alleging that the outlet created disturbances in their area.

They also broke hundreds of liquor bottles stocked in the shop. Police rushed to the spot and pacified the irate women.

The women alleged that consumption of liquor had led to a scuffle between the residents of Sukhuakhala and Lakapada slums during immersion procession of Goddess Saraswati on Sunday night. The immersion ceremony, however, concluded after police intervened in the matter.

The anti-liquor campaigners also alleged that the owner of the shop had been selling the illegal items by terrorising local people with arms.

The protesting women further alleged that people of the area have to pass by the liquor outlet facing security threat and nuisance from guzzlers. They were forced to take law in their hands as the administration did not pay any heed to their repeated pleas to close the shop which had ruined many families, they added.

They asserted that they would continue their agitation until the shop is shifted from the area.