New vigilance teams and mobile squads have been on the checking job yet supply of illicit liquor to woo voters in the election goes on in Haridwar City constituency. The women are at the receiving end when men get lured with booze.
Their protests seem to have fallen on deaf ears with the suppliers continuing to sneak into their households, especially in Tibri and Indira bastis. Matters are set to worsen as electioneering hots up.
To curb the menace as stipulated by the model code of conduct, the district election officer formed vigilance teams comprising SDMs, ADMs and forest officials. The teams are keeping a vigil on the four-wheelers to stop supply of liquor used to influence the men voters.
However, the practice has not stopped as it has assumed a subtler form to hoodwink the officials.
A witness requesting anonymity told 'The Pioneer', "A couple comes twice a month on a two-wheeler with a gunny bag containing quarter units and delivers them outside someone's house. Within a few minutes, people are informed and the bags are emptied. A quarter is sold at Rs 70 and a beer bottle at Rs 140. These days, some boys are being fetched by a political leader living in Indira Basti and taken for a party where they drink, dance and indulge in merry-making outside the city."
The villagers are angry with the State Government as also the BJP leaders having done nothing to check young boys and men from being entrapped in the net of boozing.
Maya Mausi of Indira Basti complains, "These days at night, we get knocks on the doors by some youngsters in drunken state, asking for pauas. It is hell to live here. We, the women, are always living under fear of the drunk prowling in." "They come and hide the liquor pouches at one of the homes in our locality," said one Indira Kumari of Tibri Colony whose husband drinks every night and beats her if she is resentful.