Women block road over illegal liquor sale in Cuttack

Cuttack: A day after the violent anti-liquor protest in Kendrapara, women of Badhamal village under Banki area in Cuttack district today took to streets opposing illegal sale of liquor in the area.

Demanding a liquor free village, hundreds of women of Badhamal blocked Kalapathar-Kantilo road by burning tyres. This disrupted movement of vehicular traffic on the road for hours.

Sources said, a villager had died allegedly after consuming the country made liquor on June 12. In order to prevent such deaths further, women members of the villagers resorted to such protest today. They demanded stringent action against the illicit liquor traders and closure of the liquor outlets in the area.

On being informed, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Banki police station, Satyanarayan Senapati along with other police officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitating women by assuring special measures on their demands.

"The women withdrew the road blockade after assurance. We have asked them to report illegal sale of liquor in the village and immediate action will be taken in this regard," said Senapati.

Notably, four people were injured after a group clash erupted while locals were staging protest over the reopening of a liquor shop at Angulei village under Marsaghai police limits in Kendrapara district on Thursday.

The agitation was called off after Kendrapara ADM sealed the two liquor outlets in Angulai in Patakura yesterday.