SHIVAMOGGA: Residents of Gopala Gowda Extension in Shivamogga accused primary education and Shivamogga district in-charge minister Madhu Bangarappa's followers of opening a liquor shop next to a place where a school is proposed to be opened.
Residents protested in front of the liquor shop seeking its closure. They were joined by pro-Kannada activists. They demanded that the authorities visit the spot and take steps to shut down the liquor shop. The cops detained some of the agitators. But within an hour after the protest, a group of people rushed to the spot and staged a counter-protest in support of the liquor shop.
Speaking to TOI, Srinivas Reddy, a resident, said that plans are afoot to open a nursery in the vicinity. "The liquor shopowner used political power and withheld the permission accorded to open the educational institution and opened the liquor shop nearby. Some leaders who are close to the minister is involved in this," he alleged.
Another resident, Ravichandra, said that the area has at least eight liquor shops. "Women and children are affected as they cannot walk freely during the evening hours," he said, adding that there was no need to open an additional liquor shop in the area.
Excise deputy commissioner Capt Ajit Kumar said, "The department has not issued a new liquor licence. It was an old licence and the shopowner shifted the shop to a new location. If there is a law and order problem, the shop will be closed."