Women protest illegal liquor sale, stage road blockade in Kendrapara

Kendrapara: Protesting liquor sale and alleging inaction by the concerned authorities, women of Thauri under Sadar police limits in the district here took to the streets today.

The women alleged that despite repeated appeals to the district administration to take measures to shut the liquor outlets and check illegal sale of alcohol in the area, their voices fell on deaf ears.

Sloganeering against illicit trade of liquor, hundreds of agitating women blocked the Angulai-Orat road by burning tyres. They also staged demonstration in front of the house of the liquor trader of the village.

#WATCH: Hundreds of women block Angulai-Orat road opposing liquor sale at Thauri village #Kendrapara #Odisha pic.twitter.com/tEfl75ZlCD

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“Even after repeatedly raising voices against the illegal liquor sale in the village, no concrete steps have been taken by the local administration. Male members of our family come home drunk and fight with us,” rued a protestor, Saraswati Sethi adding that youths even sell gold and silver jewellery of their family to consume alcohol.

Sujata Swain, another agitating woman said, “Youths and even educated people of the village are gradually getting habituated to consume liquor.”

“After lodging complaints with the local administration several times, traders engaged in liquor sale were arrested. However, subsequently they were released on bail and the liquor trade is still on,” alleged a ward member of Thaura village, Priyaranjan Nayak.

Meanwhile, the officials of district administration are yet to comment on the matter.