Since the death of seven people due to consumption of illicit liquor at Pathariya Peer colony at Neshville road, Dehradun police has started conducting a campaign against complaints of illicit supply of liquor. So much so that the Dehradun Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arun Mohan Joshi suspended station-in charge of Kalsi police station, Vipin Bahuguna, and inspector Sandeep. However, even after all this, illicit supply of liquor is continuing in several areas of the district. Most of these supplies are ongoing in slum areas or the outskirts of cities.
When asked about the issue, SSP Joshi said that all police-station in charges have already been intimated about the consequences they too will have to face if any such complaint is found true. If still after this any such complaint is received, actions will be taken accordingly.
A local resident at Nehrugram said, “My husband is an alcoholic and due to this, we happen to fight on a daily basis.
There are many women in our area who face domestic violence because of the males in the families being alcoholics. The problem is that they get alcohol very easily. Few months ago, they were distributing alcohol in the inter-college premises, but nowadays, the liquor distribution there has stopped.
However, on Gandhi Jayanti, when it was supposed to be dry day in the State, my husband brought liquor from somewhere in the slums at Chhe Number Puliya. They say that police will take strict action, but how can we expect proper action and results when the local authorities and local representatives are involved in this.”
It is important to mention here that many of the local residents from Madrasi Colony, Dobhal Chowk and different slum areas in Dehradun have filed complaints of illicit liquor sale in their areas but the preventive steps were not taken until the illicit liquor supply became the prime reason behind deaths in the city. Despite this, the results of these actions are still not visible on the ground as the illicit sale of liquor has continued in most areas.