The reason? They could not muster enough courage to step past their womenfolk, who had not only locked the liquor shop but also stood guard armed with lathis.
The women of Tirahipur and Mubarakpur situated in a remote corner of the district had lodged several complaints with the authorities to cancel the licence of the lone shop near the two villages selling country-made liquor but without any success. The women then got together and took a decision a few days back to force the closure of the liquor shop and hold a dharna armed with lathis, in an attempt to ensure that the men from their villages did not consume liquor on Holi.
Liquor shop raided
On Friday night, hundreds of women led by Tirahipur village chief Manju Sharma and Mubarakpur village panchayat chief Savitri Devi raided the liquor shop and locked it, after forcing the staff to flee.
Their agitation became more intense on Saturday, when they blocked traffic on the road to protest against the official inaction. No men from the two villages darede to go anywhere near them and to pursuade them to go back home.
The women relented only after the local officials assured them of speedy action on their complaint.
“The men not only spend a major portion of their income on buying liquor pouches but also misbehave with us back home under the influence of liquor,” said Ramavati Devi. Tipsy men created such a nuisance that families could not “enjoy the festival with our children and elders,” said Soni.
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