A group of women forces closure of liquor den in old city
It is women to the fore in the old city. Peeved at the failure of police to contain the sale of ID liquor sale, flourishing in certain parts here, the fairer sex is resorting to direct action. In a few instances they have openly showed their dismay by forcing closure of ID liquor sale dens.
Recently a group of women forced closure of a liquor den at Hasan Nagar by staging a demonstration in front of it. The liquor den, they alleged, flourished with active patronage from police.
A year ago similar protests were staged in at Noorinagar in Bandlaguda followed by one at the Nawabsahab Kunta.
Social activists see it as an act of desperation as women are fed up with regular economic problems at their houses after their men got addicted to consuming ‘Gudamba'.
Age-old problem
Though an age old problem not much is being done to stop it, they feel.
“It is mostly the women from the working class who are affected.
A good part of earnings of their husbands is spent on buying liquor pushing them into poverty further,” says Mohd. Turab, executive secretary, COVA.
There are also instances of the men mortgaging their household articles and jewellery to get money for ID liquor.
A good part of the earnings are being spent on consuming liquor, deteriorating not only the economic condition of the family but also the health of bread earners, they say.
“The menace should have at least been stagnated if not fully eradicated but it is only on the rise,” feels Akhtar Begum, a social worker from Hassan Nagar. ‘Gudamba' liquor sale is rampant in Lalithabagh, Bandlaguda, Nawabsahab Kunta, Puranapul Pardiwada, Aliabad, Falaknuma and Dabeerpura areas.
On the other hand the excise authorities express helplessness in curbing the problem.
The Law and Order police and the Excise and Prohibition department blame each other for ID liquor outlets still flourishing.
The latter points to shortage of staff while the former claims that in a communally sensitive area like the old city there have other issues to tackle.
Keywords: ID liquor, protests, closure of ID liquor sales
