In an unprecedented move, various social and cultural organisations of a Panchayat in Andamans started a crusade against illicit liquor. Wimberly Gunj Panchayat in South Andaman with a population of around 5000 was under the grip of alcoholism for a long time. To curb the social evil, members of Mother Teresa Mahila Mandal, Women’s Cooperative Society, Island Youth Forum, Girls Islamic Organisation, Humane Touch, a local NGO and the common people of Wimberly Gunj came together to launch a massive dharna in front of police outpost on May 8. The protest was aimed at the police inaction in curbing the menace of illicit liquor distillation, distribution and retail of the commodity freely in spite of various representations.
The addiction was fast spreading among the student community and causing irreparable damage to the society, according to Manickam, President, Wimberly Gunj Gram Panchayat.
“It is the women who have to bear the brunt of free availability of illicit liquor. We launched numerous complaints before the police but they always failed to act,” said Shanti, a local resident and activist. She also spoke of a number of suicides that could be laid at the doors of alcoholism. “The retailers are such shameless persons that they don’t desist from selling it to the school going children,” she continued. When the residents caught the retailer selling illicit liquor to a minor, the latter responded: “Children go to shops and buy ice cream; nobody asks the seller why he sold it to children. I’m also running a business; why should I ask for by customers’ birth certificate?”
The villagers were annoyed at the fact that the illegal business was going on with the full knowledge, connivance and complicity of the police and forest officials. The distillation was done deep inside the forest causing destruction of forest. The distillers used huge quantities of wood as fuel in the production. But no forest official had ever fined a single offender. The police was hand in glove with all the three segments of the trade, distillers, distributors and retailers.
They collected their cut from all three of them. The nexus was well established up to the middle level officers who got a piece of the cake. Even the central crime station, based in the capital was given a share to avoid any direct raid on the establishment. It was in this backdrop that the villagers decided enough was enough. They realised that the nexus was so deep rooted and well established that no complaint to the senior officers was going to fetch any positive result, informed a government official on condition of anonymity.
The villagers got together breaking all the barriers of caste, creed, religion and region to rid the society of the demon of illicit liquor. They called a meeting, chalked out a strategy and informed all concerned about their decision to stage a dharna on May 8.
At the appointed time a large number of villagers converged in front of the police outpost. Women were seen in large numbers but slowly the men folks too joined in strength. Speaking on the occasion, a member of Humane Touch stripped the nexus naked in clear and comprehensible terms without mincing words. He explained in detail the modus operandi and the involvement of the law enforcing agencies.
He emphasised the need for Community Policing as the present corrupt system could not be trusted to launch the Operation Cleanup. M K Hussain, Member, Zila Parishad, Rajesh Lall, Secretary, Island Youth Forum, Hamza, a local politician also spoke on the occasion and drew the attention towards the uncontained menace.
Shanta Lachaman Singh, Chairperson, Social Welfare Advisory Board and Mariyam Bibi, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, A & N Islands too joined the agitation.
A joint representation was given to Ashok Chand, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District who also addressed the assembly and assured them all help in their endeavour. He also promised to make suitable changes and put right people in place to ensure that the menace of illicit distillation was rooted out.
Later, speaking to this reporter, he said, “Community policing is the best medicine for such situations. The community would identify the bootleggers and take the police to conduct raid under its own supervision. I am passing instructions to the Outpost In-charge to cooperate with the people.” He also explained how video piracy was contained in Delhi through community policing. “But such movement must sustain and not turn into a storm in a tea cup,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, five police personnel directly involved were suspended and all the officials identified by the protestors were transferred from the outpost and other stations. Severe action has been also initiated against the bootleggers, booking them under various sections.
Appreciating the steps taken by the SP, the villagers have also taken up the task of keeping a vigil and helping the police in containing the social evil. There is a complete crackdown against the culprits.
“First step is illicit liquor. Once through with it, the second would be a crusade against drinking itself. The object is: zero tolerance towards liquor,” said M K Abdul Gafoor, a member of Humane Touch.