Balasore: Hundreds of women activists from 10 organisations took to the streets and gheraoed the SP’s office here Thursday in protest against the liquor mafia’s attack on an Anganwadi worker and proliferation of the illegal trade in every nook and corner of the town.
Tension rang high on OT Road when the agitating women blocked the road for two hours, raising slogans against the police and SP Niti Sekhar.
Launching a scathing attack on the SP, the protesters accused him of encouraging the liquor mafia instead of taking action against it. They alleged liquor trade has been proliferating across Balasore due to an unholy nexus between the police and the mafia.
The agitators pointed out that illegal hooch traders had allegedly beaten up Kantadhar Anganwadi worker Gayatri Dhada and left her helpless by a roadside July 29. Activists of Maa Ghar, a women’s organisation, had rescued Dhada and admitted her to the district headquarters hospital. Since then, various women’s organisations have been demanding justice for the Anganwadi worker.
The protesters said the police have arrested three accused – Laxmi Mana, Amalendu Behera and Jyotsna Behera following a complaint by the Anganwadi worker. “But, the police have no yet arrested the main accused Bachu Mana and two others Jayant Pradhan and Tapas Mana”, the agitators said, adding the police have not slapped appropriate sections of the IPC against the accused.
Activists of Balasore Anganwadi Workers’ Association, Milita Nisha Nibarana Abhijan, Balasore Nari Sangh, Maa Ghar, Rupayam, Orissa Kinnar Sangh, CITU, TUACC, AITUC, and Baristha Nagarika Manch took part in the agitation. The agitation threw traffic into a mess for hours. Sahadevkhunta IIC Pragyan Mohanty had a tough time dealing with the agitators, who burnt effigies of liquor traders.
Later, a delegation of the agitating women met IG of Police (eastern range) Vinaytosh Mishra and submitted him a memorandum. The SP refused to comment on the issue. DSP Santosh Kumar Nayak said three of the seven accused have been arrested. The four others are absconding and they will be arrested soon, he added. PNN
