Despite the heat wave in Sundargarh, a demonstration to evict a country liquor shop at Bileimunda has crossed 24 days with a large number of women, men, children and old persons having joined it.
The liquor is located at Bileimunda under Hemgiri block. The villagers of Garjanjor panchayat demand that the liquor shop be evicted from that place and its licence be cancelled as the locals are increasingly getting addicted to liquor.
When the district administration did not listen to their demand, the demonstrators started their relay strike on April 11 and claimed that unless their demand is fulfilled, they will not withdraw their strike. The demonstrators had also demanded before Sundargarh Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia about the eviction of the shop at Bileimunda for public grievance. Thereafter, Hemgiri Tehsildar lalat Kumar luha and Hemgiri police officials had gone to the strike spot where the demonstrators are on relay strike and discussed with the protesters to withdraw the strike but the protesters did not agree. After discussing with the Tehsildar, the protesters submitted memorandum addressing to the Collector, Sundargarh. But the district administration had not yet taken any step to evict the liquor shop.
On Sunday, the villagers discarded a Gram Sabha in protest against the apathy of the administration.