Nuapada: Tension ran high Sunday after women at Sakatora village about 2 km from here ransacked two foreign liquor and country liquor shops before setting them ablaze. The liquor shops were targeted after they were shifted from near highways only to be set up in the village.
The villagers alleged that shifting of the liquor shops to their village affected their lives and livelihoods. This has triggered resentment among them.
The simmering tension flared up Sunday when women came out in large numbers and ransacked the two shops. Properties and liquor worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in fire.
On being informed, police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot but stood helpless on noticing the rage among them. The fire was finally extinguished after efforts.
Police are learnt to be contemplating legal action against the villagers responsible for the arson. However, no case was registered when reports last came in, IIC Satya Ranjan Pradhan said.
The district administration shifted all liquor shops from alongside national and state highways by March 31. However, shifting of these two shops sparked of widespread outrage among residents as they feared it would destroy their lives and livelihoods.
Sources said the foreign liquor shop was off the national highway on the main road in Nuapada while the country liquor shop was at Telipada square in the town.
The district administration on receiving a notice of the apex court and the order of the state government issued notice to shift the liquor shops. These shops sought the permission of the district administration to shift to Sakatora village on Nuapada- Patora road.
On being alerted, the villagers of Sakatora and Gadator met the district officials and lodged a complaint against shifting of these shops to Sakatora village as school and college going children of over 12 villages regularly commute on this road which runs up to Patora– the main tourist centre in the district
The district administration promised them to look into their demands but delayed to take actions. The country liquor shop opened Saturday while the foreign liquor shop completed all preparations and was slated to open Sunday. Incensed at the move, people of two villages joined hands and conducted a meeting Saturday.
Hundreds of women carrying lathis in their hands Sunday ransacked the country liquor shop first and dumped liquor outside before stetting the shop and the liquor on fire.
Later, they stormed into the foreign liquor shop and broke open its lock and ransacked it before stetting it on fire.
The women while ransacking and torching the liquor shops, gave away slogans against liquor trading and demanded total prohibition. PNN
