Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: The people of Kapotha in Panchayat Kanyala, block Dansal of Nagrota Constituency held protest and blocked the vehicular movement on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, over re-opening of the wine shop, which was closed down on November 28 last year.
Large number of people assembled on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and blocked the vehicular movement from Domel to Kishenpur for six hours. They only allowed passage to school children, aged and ailing people. The protestors raised slogans against re-opening of the wine shop and demanded its immediate closure.
The wine shop was closed last year after the people of the area had raised an outcry over its opening in the vicinity of a temple, church and a school, complaining that the place had become a hub of drugs and narcotics thereby affecting the future of the younger generation. A series of protests and dharnas as also skirmishes between the politico-goon supporters of liquor lobby and the locals had led to a law and order situation resulting in the closure of the wine shop last year.
After getting the information about the protest led by local medico Dr Prashant Khajuria, Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Provincial President National Conference (NC), Jammu, Devender Singh Rana rushed to the spot and interacted with the agitating people.
On finding the situation getting out of control, MLA Nagrota immediately took up the matter with the District Magistrate Jammu, stating, “As a representative of the people of the area it is my duty to air the grievances of the people and in view of the sensitivity of the issue and sensibilities involved, I would strongly recommend the closure of the wine shop to maintain public order and facilitate peaceful living of the people of the area”.
The dharna was lifted after Tehsildar Dansal Snobar Jameel visited the spot and conveyed to the agitating people that in deference to their wishes and to maintain law and order, District Magistrate had asked her to assure them that the shop should not function from the present location.
On the assurance of the Tehsildar, on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, and in presence of the MLA Devender Singh Rana, the people called off their dharna and dispersed.
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