Protesting against the opening of Government liquor shop opened on densely populated Harmu Road in Ranchi, a group of women on Monday locked it up and shouted slogans against liquor ban in the State. They alleged that the liquor shop opened by the State Government has made their lives hell as it has given rise to gathering of anti-social elements in front of their houses making it difficult for them to get out of it in the evening.
“People gather here in the evening giving rise to incidents of eve-teasing in the area. We are not been able to come out of our houses after the shop was opened here as the area always remains crowded,” said a Self Help Group member Rani Sinha. It will also put bad impact on the children as there are two schools located just in front of the shop, she added.
Sinha further added that as soon as they come out of their homes, people taking liquor right in front of it; pass vulgar comments on them, making their lives miserable.
“We are demanding shifting of all three liquor shops located on Harmu Road from Ratu Road to Harmu as it is a densely populated area posing a threat on the lives of the people living in the area. Recently, 9 people, hailing from this area died after taking illicit liquor only from this area, still Government has not been taking action in this regard, she added.
The SHG member said that a protest was staged before the liquor shop earlier also, following which a written application was handed over Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar, who had assured that the shop will be closed in the next four days, but no action was taken in this regard.
“The Government should rather think over complete ban on liquor in the State on the lines of Bihar after the death of over a dozen of people after they consumed illicit liquor,” said the SHG member.
Ward Councilor of the area, Om Prakash also said that he had also received several complaints of eve-teasing and molestation and had requested the district administration to look into it, but no action was taken so far.
“If the district administration fails to take any action, we will be forced to take stern steps to get liquor shops closed,” said the Ward Councilor.
Officer in Charge of Sukhdeo Nagar Police on the other hand said that that they protested for some time before the shop and left immediately after that. The Deputy Commissioner or the Excise Commissioner were not available for comments on the issue.