GP raises red flag over illegal alcohol sale in excise minister's domain
Bagalkot: Villagers of Halkurki, Bagalkot district, launched a battle against the illegal sale of liquor. Considering five deaths after the consumption of alcohol in a month, the gram panchayat issued a caution by beating drums, declaring that it would hand over sellers to the police if they were caught.
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Women allege that liquor is available in all shops even at 5 am, and many youngsters are addicted to it. Ironically, excise minister RB Timmapur is the in-charge minister for Bagalkot district.
GP member Siddappa Bandivaddar told TOI that liquor is available in 7-8 shops. "Whenever we complain about it, they stop the sale for a while and then resume. Many youngsters, even teenagers, are addicted to it, and they are in an inebriated state as early as 8am.
In recent years, many families are losing their young men, who ride bikes in an inebriated state, to road crashes. There are also some cases of addicted persons dying by suicide or their family members taking the extreme step due to the menace of the addicted person in their family.
Irked by this, we approached the tahsildar, excise, and police officials to put an end to it," he explained.
Muttu Naikar, a journalist, noted that an MSIL outlet set by the govt in the village is responsible for spreading alcoholism in the village.
"Since the govt sets targets for the outlet, they provoke sellers to sell liquor in the village. We have requested to shut this outlet, in vain," he rued.
Bandivaddar, who belongs to a Dalit community, rued that Dalits have been major victims of this liquor sale. Sources in Badami taluk administration said that a joint raid was conducted by revenue, excise, and police personnel in three shops of the village, and cases were booked.
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Neelavva Bennappanavar, a labourer, has lost her husband and son-in-law to liquor addiction in past five years. "Now my grandson, who is still a teenager, is also addicted to it. My daughter is often assaulted by her son, who demands money to consume alcohol. Human relationships have completely collapsed in the village as sons assault mothers, husbands hit wives, and even fathers take money from daughters," she said.
Villagers are planning to approach the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police soon, seeking closure of the MSIL outlet. When contacted, Bagalkot DC KM Janaki said she was unaware of the issue. "It is unfortunate that youngsters are getting addicted to alcohol. We will collect details from officials and take appropriate action," she assured.
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