Hundreds of tribals of Bileimunda village, besides several voluntary organizations, staged a demonstration at Sundargarh Collector’s office on Monday demanding eviction of a country liquor shop and beer parlour from Bileimunda.
The demonstrators also submitted a memorandum to the ADM, Sundargarh addressing to Sundargarh Collector.
Notably, the tribals of Bileimunda have been holding an anti-liquor agitation for last 108 days, but their demands are yet to be fulfilled.
The villagers are of the view that the local shop and beer parlour have been the main cause of many disturbances in their locality. A relay hunger strike has also been continuing there since April 1.
Hemgiri Tehsildar lalat Kumar luha and Hemgiri police officials had discussed with the protesters to withdraw the strike, but in vain. The villagers discarded a Gram Sabha in protest against the apathy. On May 8, a large number of women had staged a rally on the Mother’s Day and took oath to drive out liquor from the village. A 12-member team under the banner of Bileimunda Grambasi and Anchalbasi in Sundargarh had met the district Collector on May 9. On June 15, thousands of tribals, including youths, girls, women and old persons of Bileimunda, had staged a mass rally. The leaders said that on August 15 and October 2, a meeting will be held in Gram Sabha in entire Sundargarh district to ban liquor in the district. They also warned to intensify their stir.