the goan I network
MARGAO
The government may have suspended the licences of liquor traders in Surla, but that has not stopped the illegal sale of heady brew in the village.
The Karnataka excise staff on Wednesday raided a Maharashtra-registered vehicle and seized liquor from the occupants.
According to sources, the car had been seen near a liquor store in Surla. The Karnataka excise staff was tipped off and the car was intercepted. Liquor bottles and cans were found in the vehicle and were later seized by the excise team.
Locals from Surla have been up in arms against the many liquor stores in the village.
After many agitations and a resolution at a special gram sabha of the Thane Dongurli panchayat, the government accepted their demands and suspended the licences of seven liquor traders in Surla village.
Despite the suspension of licences, some liquor store owners have been accused of illegally selling alcohol in the village.
“Some of the liquor store owners are involved in the illegal sale of liquor even though the State government has suspended their licences. Now that the Karnataka excise team has seized alcohol from a car which was near a liqour store, the Goa excise officials should be very serious in enforcing a ban on the sale of liquor,” Surla Village Committee President Ganu Gaonkar told reporters.
