Kasaragod: The rampant sale of hooch along the coastal area has forced a group of irate women to launch their own mission to tackle the menace.
The sale has been going unchecked during day as well as night. Fed up with the affairs, the women set out to launch their own ways and seized 96 packets of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) brought from Karnataka which they later destroyed. The women took the step after their complaints to the police and the excise against the illegal sale of the liquor were unaddressed.
The gangs selling the liquor hide their stock at various places on the coast. The IMFL is smuggled to the district mainly from Karnataka and Goa. Vehicles transporting fish are mainly used for the purpose. A fixed amount is paid to bring the liquor hidden under the fish. Excise and police seldom check fish carriers, which helps the smugglers.
IMFL, which is bought at a cheap rate in Karnataka and Goa, is sold at thrice the amount in Kasaragod. Women from the the coastal area are demanding that the police and excise officials should intensify their crack down on the illegal sale of liquor.
Similar steps in the past too
Women of Kasaba in Kasaragod have a history of leading agitations against the illegal sale of liquor. They are still ready for a fight in case the authorities do not carry out their duty. The women had earlier taken out a march along with their children from the coastal area to the Collectorate in Vidyanagar after the authorities failed to act against the sale of hooch. A hartal was also staged, bringing life in the coastal area to a standstill. Kasaba had witnessed several other agitations too.
The recent action was organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree. The women surrounded the man selling liquor, but he managed to escape leaving his bag filled with hooch packets behind. The women found 96 packets each costing Rs 35 in the bag. Though they contacted the excise to hand over the liquor, nobody initially picked up the phone. According to the women, the excise officials arrived much later.
The women say that the menfolk spend money on liquor even if they don’t go to the sea.
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