A fine of 40 thousand rupees has been imposed on a beer shop in Azamgarh. Even after the closure order, on the day of Holi, this shop remained open, and because of this two communities came face to face. The administration somehow managed to difuse the tension, and ordered action against the concerned beer shop. After the tension, an NCR was registered at Bardah police station. The District Magistrate had sought report from the station chief, Bardah in this case. In his report, the station chief, Bardah, confirmed that the opening of the shop was the only reason behind the dispute.The District Magistrate on the basis of the police report handed the investigation to the District Excise Officer. The District Excise Officer also gave clean chit to the report and on this basis District Magistrate has imposed a fine of 40 thousand rupees on the beer shop.
The District Magistrate has ordered closure of all licenced liquor shops from morning till 5 o’ clock in the evening. In spite of this, the beer shop in Jiwli, in Bardah police station area was open, and beer was being sold at high prices. This led to a brawl between salesman and a person that evetually led to communal tension between the two communities. There was widespread violence between the two communities.On recieving the information, police reached the spot and canned both the sides and after registering the case, detained some people from both sides. This dispute between the two communities continued for several days. The situation was somehow difused by some learned people from both the communities. The district administration took this matter seriously and now the action has been taken.
It is not that liquor and beer is not available on days of closure. Some shopkeepers already collect their stocks in nearby homes and shops and from there it is sold at higher prices. All this continues with the collusion of the police and the excise department.
Even if the district administration has fined 40 thousand rupees on this shop, but he has also been defended, as all this continues in connivance with the local administration. According to the Excise Act, the shop licence can be cancelled if found open on the given day. So after all this ruckus, small actions like this are just face saving exercise.