About 1,000 tribal women from different villages of Banspal block took out an anti-liquor rally at the block headquarters on Thursday. The women protestors shouting slogans marched towards a weekly marketplace and attacked vendors selling country liquor and intoxicating drinks in the market. They razed sheds and destroyed gallons of country liquor from jars and containers. Even a Handia Haat was also raided by the agitating women.
After smashing several liquor pots, the angry women moved towards traders selling Mahua seeds and other materials used for preparation of country liquor. They set fire to the sheds and other materials used for country liquor production. The Banspal outpost and Nayakote police rushed to the spot to guard the licenced liquor shops near Banspal market. Illegal liquor business has been a flourishing trade for many vendors and the slackness of police and Excise officials has encouraged many into the illegal trade, a local said.
liquor has been a main obstacle in the economic, social and educational development of primitive tribes in the area for which Banspal block still continues to be the most backward block in the State, Sanatan Dehury, a villager lamented. It has been the root cause to most of the crimes, family disturbances in the area and a major part of the tribal villager’s income goes to the liquor vendors, he added. The women warned the vendors to permanently close down the business or else face the wrath. The women dispersed after a meeting held near the market place to chalk out future planning of the anti liquor movement.