Sheekha Bureau
Bambooflat, Oct 16: Following a recent, drunken brawl inside Bamboo Bar at Bambooflat, general public, including women from the locality with the support of NGOs organized a spontaneous dharna in front of the bar demanding the Administration to completely shut down the bar.
Rajesh Barla, a 34-year old man residing in Tsunami Shelters at Bambooflat had succumbed to the grievous head injuries he sustained in the brawl which occurred inside the Bar. There was huge resentment among the villagers about the bar, which later paved way for the dharna.
Hundreds of men and women participated in the 2 hour Dharna, in which besides sloganeering against alcoholism and the social impact of the bar in the area, many issues related with disturbance of peace and tranquility were highlighted.
As per public, the bar had become a threat for the area with peace not only disturbed on the streets, but inside homes too. Others pointed out that many households are victims of domestic violence and deaths due to the bar.
Women actively participated and also raised the problems faced by them due to the existence of the bar in the area. They all echoed same sentiments and demanded immediate closure of the bar.
Later, Sunil Kumar, Tehsildar, Ferrargunj Tehsil, representing the Deputy Commissioner met the agitators and after discussion with the Deputy Commissioner informed that the Bar will be temporarily suspended till the investigation of the tussle followed by the death of Rajesh Barla is completed.
The peaceful dharna came to a close at 12.30 pm with a two-minute silence observed in memory of the young man who lost his life.
A good number of men and women participating in the flash dharna, despite rains is an indicator to the fact that the islanders are fed up with the nuisance being created by the liquor outlet. It has been at the root of many societal problems. The Bar need to be shut down for good.
Very rightly said by Mr Badra – Bar Should Be Shutdown for Good, Enough is enough. Probably these Islands would be ranking high in the per capita liquor consumption in whole of India. Also, the authorized importer ANIIDCO, should rethink another way for Island Development (ani ID co).