Kantapada villagers up in arms against illegal liquor

Bhubaneswar: The villagers of Kantapada under Gop block in Puri district of Odisha have urged the district administration to take immediate steps to stop illegal liquor trade in their locality.

The villagers have sent their petitions to Puri District Collector, Superintendent of Police (SP) and Excise Superintendent in this regard, sources said.

According to the villagers, some anti-social elements have been selling illegal liquor in the village market at Kantapada, located close to a school, for last several months.

The villagers have urged the authorities concerned to take the necessary steps to stop the illegal liquor trade at Kantapada but to no avail.

The villagers have alleged a nexus between the Excise department officials and some anti-social elements behind the illegal liquor trade in their village.

“The police and Excise department officials are hand in glove with the liquor mafia,” said a villager.

A group of women of Kantapada has been demonstrating against the illegal trade in the village for the last couple of days. The women have threatened to continue their agitation till there is concrete action on the issue.

“We have urged the district administration to take action against the illegal liquor traders,” said Mohani Behera, a villager.

Kanhu Behera, Kartik Behera, Panchanan Behera, Ratnakar Behera and several others of Kantapada have expressed their resolve to fight against the illegal liquor trade in their village.