The country-made liquor shop running under the railway overbrige located at the side of Shiv Mandir, Mhow, and the side of the railway station is becoming a threat to the safety of the people for the last 2 years. These shops are situated in Topkhana area of Mhow which is just 1.5 kms from the present location of railway underbridge.
All these shops of Topkhana were shifted at this underbridge location 2 years ago. These shops had been running for the last 25 years.
Interestingly, before starting this shop, this liquor shop owner tried to open this shop in front of St Mary Higher Secondary School. It ran for few days before being demolished by Cantonment Board Authority. Later, Indore administration gave the place of the shop under the railway over bridge for one year but the shop owner continued to run his shop at this place for another year. It seems that the shop owner is not in a mood to vacate this place.
Thousands of people use this underbridge road to reach temple, railway station and family quarters.
Due to the presence of the drinkers, people face lots of problems daily especially the women in the night. Few months back, a 4-year-old girl had been raped after being kidnaped from nearby Shiv Temple. The accused had raped the girl under the influence of liquor.
There was no such rape crime in Mhow in last 25 years of a minor girl before the opening of this countrymade liquor shop. Earlier, this country-made liquor shop was running at a secluded spot of Topkhana but as this shop has come to this underbridge location, the rate of crime has increased. People say it is the duty of the Government to safeguard people.
Former DRM has written to the Indore administration many times to remove this shop from this underbridge but of no avail till today. The country made liquor shop owner has a high political approach in the previous Government.
Assistant Commissioner Excise, Indore, Rajnarayan Soni, told The Pioneer that he would look into the matter.