The Bileimunda tribal inhabitants in Sundargarh district have been holding an anti-liquor agitation for last 82 days but their demands still fall on the deaf ear of the administration. The protesters are now contemplating to file a PIl in the Orissa High
Court in this regard.
According to sources, the villagers of Garjanjor panchayat are holding the agitation for the shifting of a local shop alleging that the shop has been the root cause of many disturbances in their locality.
Significantly, the locals are holding an agitation for last 80 days demanding eviction of that liquor shop. A relay hunger strike has also been continuing there since April11 last.
During the hunger strike, Hemgiri Tehsildar lalat Kumar luha and Hemgiri police officials had discussed with the protesters to withdraw the strike, but in vain. As a result, several of the agitators had been hospitalised. The villagers had also discarded a Gram Sabha in protest against the apathy of the administration.
The protesters claimed that they will not withdraw their stir till the demand was not met.
On May 8, a large number of women 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 district Collector on May 9 for eviction of the country liquor shop but the district Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia had refused to fulfil their demand.
On June 15, thousands of tribals, including youths, girls, women and old persons of Bileimunda, staged a mass rally and gave slogan that when tribals here have been demanding for eviction of the liquor shop for the betterment of society and development of the area, the State Government and the district administration are not listening to them. The tribals also warned of intensifying their agitation in coming days.