The tribals of Bileimunda in Sundargarh district have been holding an anti-liquor agitation for last 102 days, but their demands are yet to be fulfilled. The protesters are now contemplating to stage protest in front of the Collectorate on July 18.
Sources said the villagers of Garjanjor panchayat are holding the agitation for the shifting of a local shop alleging that the shop has been the main cause of many disturbances in their locality. A relay hunger strike has also been continuing there since April 1.
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. 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 had 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 the district Collector on May 9 for eviction of the country liquor shop, but 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, had staged a mass rally and had given a 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.
According to sources, recently revenue officials of Tapria circle under Hemgiri Tehsil had gone to the village where that country liquor shop is situated and had conducted an inquiry. A Shiv temple is located about 150 metres distance from thecountry liquor shop as one petition had been filed by villagers of Bileimunda before Governor of Odisha that due to presence of liquor shop there, locals have been facing lots of problems as it is nearer to the weekly market, temple and a pond where people regularly bath. . The petitioner had also mentioned that without the approval of Gram Sabha, the liquor shop is running in that place.
On May 24, Under Secretary to the Governor of Odisha, had written to the Sundergarh Collector to submit action taken report on the petition. Since the district administration has not yet taken any action for eviction of that liquor shop from that place, the protesters are now contemplating to stage protest in front of Sundargarh Collectorate on July 18, demanding eviction of that country liquor shop.
“Since our demand for eviction of the liquor shop has not yet been fulfilled, we are planning to stage protest in front of Sundargarh Collectorate on July 18,” said Rajendra Naik, a demonstrator.