Anandapur: An anti-liquor movement is brewing up in Anandapur area of Keonjhar district amid allegation of inaction against bootleggers.
A group of women staged protests on the premises of Ananadapur police station Thursday, demanding action against the liquor traders.
Before sitting on dharna, the women and the police had come close to confrontation, when the latter asked the former to get outside the police station premises.
However, the women were firm on their demand on immediate arrest of some liquor traders operating in the area. Police had to bow before the agitating women who sat in dharna on the premises.
Hundreds of women activists of Madabirodhi Mahila Sangha led by its leader Janaki Jena and its secretary Lilabati Parida had opposed bootlegging at Dadhibaman village July 13.
A liquor trader had allegedly attacked the women and abused them.
The liquor trader had even threatened that he would run vehicles over the husbands of the agitating women.
Following the incident, the women had lodged a complaint with Anandapur police against the liquor trader.
The liquor trader had filed a counter complaint against the women.
“The police have been sitting pretty over two complaints,” fumed Lilabati Parida.
Parida also alleged that the liquor trader has been creating an unpleasant situation in the village and issuing threats to their families.
The women said they will not refrain from sit-in protests until action is taken against the liquor mafia.
PNN
