Villagers protest new liquor vend at Seeprian

On the one hand, the government is running a campaign to end drug addiction from the state, on the other hand, liquor contractors are allegedly flouting the norms by opening illegal liquor vends in the villages.

This was all being done in the Kandi area in connivance with the Excise Department. This was alleged today by people of village Seeprian, holding a protest under the leadership of Sarpanch of the village Rajneesh Kumar to get the new liquor shop closed by liquor contractors at the bus stand of Seeprian village of Hajipur.

Protesters Nambardar Om Dutt, Ran Singh, Chhote Singh, Rani Devi, Joginder Singh, Kailash Kumar, Om Prakash, Satpal, Subhash Chand, Shubham, Avtar Singh and Pawan Kumar were present to get the new liquor vend closed. Various speakers strongly opposed the opening of the liquor shop by the liquor contractors at the village bus stand and said the young generation was already getting addicted to intoxicants.

On receiving the information of a massive protest by people of Seeprian village, DSP Mukerian Kulwinder Singh Virk, Police Station In-charge Hajipur Harprem Singh along with his police party and Excise Officer Naresh Sahota reached the spot.

SHO Harprem Singh told this correspondent that a memorandum was given by the Panchayat to get the liquor shop permanently closed. SHO said the excise officer had assured them that he will take up the matter with his higher officials and a decision will be taken. For the time being, the liquor vend was closed till a decision was taken by the excise officials.

Jalandhar