Villagers force closure of liquor shop in HP

Nahan, May 9 (UNI) Residents of a village in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh forced closure of a liquor shop after blocking traffic on Nahan-Pathankot National Highway No 72 for over three hrs today, police and official sources said.

Residents of Rukhri village, about 13 km from here, blocked traffic on the NH No 72 at about 0930 hrs, demanding the closure of the liquor shop in the village.

The blockade was only lifted at about 1230 hrs after Nahan Tehsildar K S Lalta assured the villagers that the shop would be closed and shifted to a new suitable location.

The villagers alleged that despite submitting several memorandums to the Nahan deputy commissioner not to open the shop in the village, it was opened in their village.

Several shops have been forced to close down at Poanta, Shillai, Sangrah and Rajgarh areas of the district following fierce opposition by the villagers and women who said the panchayats were not taken into confidence before opening them.

UNI