Daijiworld News Network - Udupi (MB)
Pics by RK Durga Digitals

Udupi, Nov 3: A rare case of women's self-help groups joining together in getting an unauthorized arrack shop shut down has been reported from Sampigenagar in Udyavar on the outskirts of this temple city on Thursday.

A child appeared to be showing equal interest in protesting

The protesters, led by none other than Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, succeeded in having the shop locked by the owner himself.

Is he demonstrating how to open an arrack sachet, called 'totte' locally?

The crowd at the spot

Out finally - lock, stock and barrel

The demonstrators, made of predominantly womenfolk, insisted on shutting down the shop immediately, although the excise official , Haridas Bhat, who arrived at the spot, informed that the owner had been given a month's time to close it.

MLA Bhat said he was against any commercial establishment coming up without any authorization.

Finally, the women's unity worked and the shop was shut down and locked.

A good number of social workers, sitting and former elected representatives and representatives of different organizations took part and supported the agitators.