Locals Block Road, Demand Withdrawal Of Shop Near School
Key Points:
- Slum residents protest govt liquor shop near Vindhyavasini Temple
- Protesters allege shop sits close to school, tuition centres
- Demonstrators warn of intensified stir if demands are ignored
JAMSHEDPUR – Anger erupted among residents of Shiv Ghat Road in Jugsalai on Monday night over a proposed government liquor shop near a temple.
A large number of local residents took to the streets in the area, which falls under Jugsalai police station jurisdiction. They raised slogans against the administration and staged a strong protest against the shop.
Protesters blocked the road and demanded that the administration immediately cancel the proposed liquor outlet. The demonstration continued for a considerable period on Monday night.
Local resident Nalini Sinha said the site chosen for the shop lies in a completely residential locality. She added that a large number of families reside there, and the area has a considerable child population.
According to residents, the proposed shop is located barely 100 metres from the Vindhyavasini Temple. St. John English High School and several tuition centres also operate nearby, drawing large numbers of students daily.
Residents alleged that nearly 60 percent of the local population comprises children. They said the shop’s presence would harm the social environment and create difficulties for women, children and elderly residents.
Meanwhile, protesters claimed that opening the shop would draw crowds of habitual drinkers and anti-social elements to the area. This, they said, could affect peace, safety and law and order in the locality.
They further pointed out that crime incidents in the city have already been on the rise. Opening a government liquor shop near a densely populated residential area, a temple and a school, they argued, goes against public interest.
Residents urged the administration to respect local sentiment and reconsider the decision without delay. They demanded that the proposed shop be relocated to a more suitable site instead.
The protesters warned that the agitation would be intensified if their demands were not addressed soon. Similar liquor-related concerns have surfaced elsewhere in the district recently, including a liquor seizure case in Musabani.
Other groups in the region have also staged demonstrations recently over local grievances, including a panchayat secretaries’ protest and a parents’ protest over school fees. Congress workers similarly held a sit-in protest at a block office in Gamharia over pending grievances.
