Kendrapada: Several agitated women on Wednesday gheraoed the collector’s office in Jajpur, demanding immediate closure of a liquor shop at Ankola chowk under Panasa gram panchayat. They blocked the main entrance of the office for around three hours and alleged that the district administration illegally allowed a person to open the shop.One of the agitators, Binita Behera (43) of Panasa village said, “Last month, we submitted memorandums to the district collector, district superintendent of police, local police officials and the excise officials not to give permission to anybody to open an alcohol outlet at Ankola chowk. But the authorities did not pay any heed to our pleas, for which we gheraoed the office.”The women submitted a memorandum to the district administration again on Wednesday. “Liquor is flowing like water in many areas as the govt opened many liquor shops due to the thirst for revenue. Unchecked flow of liquor and narcotics has started wreaking havoc among the people of rural and urban areas, and following this antisocial activities have gone up,” said Gitanjali Das (40) of Ankola chowk.Das added, “Many youths have become addicts and are wasting a substantial part of their earnings on liquor, resulting in the deprivation of the whole family. This is why we took a step by opposing the licensed India Made Foreign Liquor shop at Ankola chowk.”“Despite rules prohibiting liquor shops within a radius of 500m of any educational institution, temple and hospital, the district administration allowed a person to open an alcohol outlet nearly 200 to 300m from a school, a temple and a hospital at Ankola chowk,” said Nalini Prava Rout of Ankola chowk.“After discussing with the excise officials and others, we will take a proper decision soon on their demands,” said Ambar Kumar Kar, Jajpur collector.
Women gherao the collector’s office in Jajpur on Wednesday
