![Villagers protesting against opening of wine shop at Dabwal in Kathua on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Pardeep Sharma Villagers protesting against opening of wine shop at Dabwal in Kathua on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Pardeep Sharma](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/page7-13-2.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 24: The residents of village Dabwal in block Barnoti held a strong protest over the opening of wine shop in village Dabwal. The villagers including the women in large numbers sat on dharna in front of wine shop opened in the village and raised strong protest.
They were raising slogans against the opening of wine shop in the village . The protestors said that a wine shop is allocated for village Ghatti which is five kilometer from the village Dabwal. But it has been opened in their village near a religious place, a school and residential area.
The protestors Anju Bala, Geeta Devi, Leela , Krishna Kumari said that the wine shop is forcibly opened under the nose of district administration and Excise and Taxation Department supported by police while violating the norms and rules .
They said that Ghatti area is already dominated by illicit liquor producers. The residents are worried of drugs and liquor and some people have shifted to city areas keeping in view the drug menace. They alleged that on one side Government is creating awareness to avoid drugs. But on the other side, Government is forcibly opening the liquor shops at door steps of people.
They warned the administration to launch mass agitation if their demand was not fulfilled immediately. The women said that they will continue the protest dharna in front of the wine shop and cannot put the future of their families in dark and as druggist.
They submitted a memorandum to DC Kathua and appealed him to shift the wine shop from village Dabwal to Ghatti . Otherwise Government will face dire consequences.