Women vandalise liquor shop in Firozabad, demand closure

Agra: Nearly 35 women allegedly vandalised a liquor outlet in Firozabad district on Wednesday, damaging stock and demanding its closure, days after a similar protest targeting a liquor shop in Agra's Rambagh area.Officials said the protesters broke the lock, entered the premises, threw liquor and beer cartons onto the road and damaged the stock before blocking the Jasrana-Araon road. Traffic remained disrupted for a few hours until police and administrative officials arrived and persuaded the women to disperse.The protesting women alleged that the liquor outlet was ruining families, claiming that many men spent their daily earnings on alcohol and often returned home drunk, leading to domestic violence and hardship for women and children. They said they would not allow any liquor shop to operate in or near the village.Shop owner Shiv Shankar claimed liquor worth around Rs 2 lakh was damaged. "The outlet was operating legally under an excise licence and is located outside the village," Shankar said.Shankar later filed a police complaint, following which a case was registered against dozens of women.