Police on Sunday foiled attempt of Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) to shut down liquor shops in the summer capital.
An amalgam of traders, hoteliers and transporters, the KEA had organized a protest rally from Press colony to Lal Chowk. The protest rally was led by newly elected KEA, Chairman, Muhammad Yusuf Chapri and other executive members of the alliance.
The protestors tried to march towards Boulevard and other areas to shut down liquor shops. However, a police contingent intercepted them near Regal Chowk and lodged them at police station Kothibagh.
Earlier, Co-Chairman, KEA Farooq Ahmad Dar said that “when states like Bihar can ban liquor trade, why the JK government is shying away from banning it.”
“It is a long pending demand of Kashmir Inc that the booze business in JK should be banned. but despite change of guard in governance, there is no process being initiated by the respective governments to ban this social evil which is main cause of various ills in our society,” he said.
Dar added that the recent reports about increase in consumption of alcohol in the state as well as Kashmir should be cause of concern for civil society and general public.
According to the official figures, 5.46 crore bottles of different varieties of liquor were consumed in the state during 2014-15. In 2015-16 fiscal, the figure has increased to 5.75 crore, the figures revealed.
Dar said that government revenue out of liquor trade is only Rs 500 crore, “but its negative impact is not quantifiable.”
Police foil KEA’s bid to shut liquor shops
