Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 12: Local people are up in arms against the excise department for giving permission to open a liquor shop at Rajeev Nagara residential locality in Badagubettu Village here, which they said was opened overnight.
Members of several organizations and institutions as well as representatives of Stree Shakti self help groups held protest on Tuesday July 11 in front of the excise department office here against the said outlet. They said that this liquor shop was opened by taking advantage of the Supreme Court order to shift liquor shops located near national highways. The wine shop in question was opened all of a sudden on Thursday after initially obtaining licence from the local panchayat to open a non-vegetarian restaurant before beginning to sell liquor, thus deceiving the panchayat, they alleged.
The people who participated in the protest said that opening of this shop near the bus stand has deprived women and children here of a sense of security. They said they were shocked at the attitude of excise officials who have ignored the fight being carried on villagers against opening of liquor outlets in the area since the last three to four years.
President of Rajeev Nagara Resident Owners Welfare Association, Raveendra Shetty, said that the liquor shop now opened is located near Alevoor main road where a bus stand, government school, residences, temple etc are located. He said that this was not shifting of existing liquor shop but transfer of licence from somewhere else.
The protestors could not hand over their memorandum against the said shop to the deputy commissioner of excise as she was not in office. They were not prepared to give the petition to the deputy superintendent in the office, K Vinod Kumar. They waited for the arrival of the deputy commissioner, Roopa, who came at 5 pm, and went back after handing over the memorandum to her. Raveendra Shetty said that the officer has promised to initiate action within four days. He said further protests will be planned on the basis of the decision that would be taken by the department.
Vatsala Shenoy of Sphoorti Mahila Mandali, Flossy Fernandes, office bearers of the association and several others were present.