A delegation of the Manav Adhikar Surksha Manch led by its coordinator advocate Abani Kumar Gaya on Monday submitted a memorandum to the district Collector here demanding a complete ban on the sale and consumption of liquor till the results of the process of elections to urban local bodies in the district is completed.
The sale and consumption of liquor in the district has increased manifold owing to the ongoing election process and some political parties are reportedly distributing free liquor particularly to illiterate voters with an intention to bring them to their party fold, the memorandum alleged.
Owing to rampant sale of liquor publicly everywhere, the honest candidates who have filed their nominations for the elections are scared apprehending retaliatory action by the liquor mafias and antisocials.
To make the election free and fair, the district administration should identify all the liquor mafias and liquor manufacturing and sale centres and keep a strict vigil on their activities, said a member of the Manch. Right from early morning to late night, people in drunken condition are openly moving on the streets leaving the denizens in panicy, he pointed out.
Ganjam Collector Krishan Kumar reportedly assured the Manch delegates to take steps to close down liquor shops till the election process is over.
Among others, Manch president Upendranath Mishra and general secretary Maguni Nahak, Dr AR Verma; Prasant Kumar Das, R Satyanarayan, Shyamsundar Khadanga, Rajendra Panda, PK Sabat, Bansidhar Bhuyan and RK Mondal joined the delegation.