The foreign liquor (Fl) shop owners all over Nuapada district are facing stiff opposition from people, particularly women, for shifting the shops to residential areas.
Women of Sakhatar and Godtar villages had destroyed and burnt a Fl shop shifted to their locality a few days ago. Women of Komna had also opposed the shifting of a shop on Saturday last.
The women of Santinagar Pada of Khariar NAC led by the Khariar Yuva Morcha demonstrated in front of a liquor shop on Tuesday and raised slogans against the district administration, which in spite of objections from people, had granted permission for shifting of the shop to the residential area. The Excise Department was forced to seal the shop after it was clear that the women are not going to budge from their stand.
“We are not able to come out of our houses due to the nuisances created by drunkards here. They sit in our verandas, drink and even pee in front of the doors. Can you bear such excesses,” asks a widow of Santi Nagar, living adjacent to the Fl shop.