Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday demanded legislation that prohibits liquor and gambling in the state. His demand comes in the wake of the shocking gang-rape and murder of a young woman in Ahmednagar’s Kopardi village.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Hazare said substance abuse is the major reason for incidents like the Kopardi rape, and the police have failed to curb this. “In the last one-and-a-half decades, the state Director General of Police has issued 50 circulars to all police stations in the state to prevent illicit activities like gambling and illicit liquor dens, but the officers are not following his orders,” he said.
Following his meeting with Mr. Hazare, Mr. Fadnavis said the government will bring in legislation to empower villagers to form a protection force at the village level. This force will comprise both men and women, and will prevent activities like gambling and illicit liquor dens that ultimately lead to incidents like the one at Kopardi.
Mr. Hazare said the excise and home departments have failed to control illicit liquor sales, and both pass the responsibility on to others. He said under the proposed legislation, there will be a provision to file an FIR against anyone selling the liquor illegally in villages, and three FIRs would lead to the accused being externed from the district. He added that the punishment for selling liquor illegally would range between three and 10 years.
