Demanding removal of a Government licenced country spirit shop on Gobabast- Bainlo Bazar Road in Sainso Gram Panchayat under Barang block of Cuttack district, village women from both Harianta and Sainso panchayats under the banner of Regional Anti-liquor Women’s Group sat on a daylong dharana at Gobabast bazar on Wednesday.
Since the district administration has been ignoring the villagers’ plea to remove the liquor shop and curbing illegal liquor trade, the villagers are now compelled to start fresh agitation. The agitation is supported by members of Milita Odisha Nisha Nibaran Abhijan and Sambhav, another anti-liquor advocacy group from Bhubaneswar.
“We had met the Cuttack district Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra at his office on April 5 and handed over a memorandum. However, no action was taken so far,” alleged women front president Kanchan Bhoi. The movement was joined by women from eight different villages including Andhoti, Sainso, Harianta, Purushottampur, Rahura, Gobabast, Kokal and Gabilo.
The agitating women alleged that the shop operating within a close distance from three schools has caused severe inconveniences for the general public and students. As it has turned into an open bar for the hooligans, the particular stretch of Gobabast- Bainlo Bazar Road became unsafe for commuters during evening hours. Since the opening day of the shop, innumerable untoward incidents have occurred. On June 23, 2015, a dead body was found in front of the shop; however the local police remained silent in a bid to save the liquor shop.
Besides the shop transports liquor to many nearby villages like Harianta, Sainso (Bhoi Sahi and Dhoba Sahi), Ullar, Mandardhia Bhoi Sahi, Gogal, Johal, Chaupada etc where it clandestinely operates in collaboration with some village mafia. It also allows drinking near the shop, they said.