A large number of women on Monday took to the street and gheraoed the Sambalpur Collector’s office demanding removal of liquor shops in their areas.
Holding placards with anti-liquor messages, hundreds of women under the banner of the Jayantpur Seva Self-Help Group (SHG) also under the leadership of senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari gheraoed the Collectorate.
They alleged that there was rise in anti-social activities as people get drunk and get involved in crime. The protestors demanded to remove the liquor shops at different places of the town also.
The protestors had a scuffle with the police. As a result police arrested many women along with BJP leader Suresh Pujari.
“Women are not demanding road or post of a teacher or a doctor, they are demanding the removal of liquor shops in the villages,” said Pujari.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over the attitude of the district administration as the Additional District Magistrate did not come to the site to collect the memorandum from the agitators.