A volatile standoff between the excise department and rural residents turned violent today as a liquor outlet was reduced to ashes in a village near Panipat. The incident highlights the growing friction in Haryana over the placement of liquor vends near educational and religious institutions.
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The Flashpoint: The vend had opened recently following the latest excise auction. Local villagers immediately raised objections, pointing out that the shop was located on the primary path used by hundreds of girls to reach their school. “Every day, drunkards gather here by afternoon. It makes it impossible for our daughters to walk past without facing harassment,” a woman protester stated.
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The Arson: After a morning protest failed to get a response from the authorities, the crowd became aggressive. According to witnesses, the mob broke into the vend, threw the stock outside, and set the structure on fire. The salesman fled the spot to save his life. Fire tenders from Panipat were called in, but the wooden and tin structure was largely destroyed by the time they arrived.
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Excise Norms vs. Reality: Per Haryana’s Excise Policy, liquor vends should ideally not be within 150 meters of schools or places of worship. However, villagers alleged that the measurement was “manipulated” during the allotment process.
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Police Intervention: A heavy police contingent was deployed in the village to prevent further escalation. While no arrests were made immediately to avoid further aggravating the local community, the police have seized CCTV footage from nearby buildings to identify the ringleaders of the arson.
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Village Resolution: The Gram Panchayat has reportedly passed a resolution stating they will not allow any liquor vend to operate within the village boundaries, regardless of government allotment.
