Tension prevailed at Bhalumunda under the Kamakhyanagar police station in Dhenkanal district after police clashed with a group of women who tried to ransack a country made liquor vend at Kiradmali-Bhalumunda Chhak on Wednesday.
Protesting the police action and demanding immediate closure of the illegal liquor vend in their locality, the agitators blocked the road disrupting vehicular communications between Kamakhyanagar and Kankadahada.
later, senior police and district administration officials, including the local Tehsildar and SDPO rushed to the spot to control the situation.
The women alleged that they had to resort to the agitation as the administration and Excise Department personnel after repeated demands to shift the liquor shop, turned a deaf ear to their pleas.
“Our husbands consume liquor from the country liquor shop and come home drunk. Then they abuse us and our children. Besides, our financial condition has been affected” said a woman protestor, demanding immediate closure of the shop.
Another woman protestor said that almost all male members of the village have been addicted to alcohol. Besides, the boozers create nuisance and pass abusive comments at women and girls. “Hence, we will not allow a liquor shop to run near our village,” she threatened.