Protesters stop liquor shop from opening again in Assam’s Chapor

Chapor: Residents and activists led by Nagarik Mancha, Chapor, on Tuesday blocked a liquor shop from reopening in Chapor town when the owner tried to remove the lock, triggering another round of protests.Shop employees confronted the protesters and chased them away, after which police reached the spot, escorted the staff and moved them out safely, locals said.The agitation comes amid an ongoing political row in the Chapor Municipal Board. BJP state president Dilip Kumar Saikia had earlier directed Bilasipara district BJP president Debajit Borkalita to instruct the Chapor civic body chairperson and vice-president to resign within three days over alleged involvement in opening the wine shop and “large-scale corruption” in the municipal board.

Both have not resigned yet.Speaking to TOI, Nagarik Mancha (Chapor) working president Sheikh Hedayetullah said residents oppose the outlet because Chapor is the hometown of former chief minister Sarat Chandra Singha, popularly known as Jananeta. He said Singha “had remained as an ardent Gandhian” and “during his tenure never allowed to open a wine outlet in Chapor.”“People registered strong protest and staged sit-in in front of wine outlet four times since May 14, but the owner obtained an order from Gauhati High Court allowing to open the shop. We have also already challenged the order in the court of law with our points seeking justice in favour of public interest from the honourable court,” Hedayetullah added.