Sangareddy: Excise officer says sarpanches must support belt shops

Villagers of Lakshmi Sagar in Sangareddy district were left shocked after five liquor outlets with belt shops suddenly opened despite a panchayat resolution banning liquor sales five years ago. When sarpanch Uppari Lakshman complained, Jogipet Excise Inspector Sagar Reddy urged him to support liquor sales, a reply that was recorded and widely condemned.

Sangareddy: An Excise officer’s reply to sarpanch on operation of belt shops left the sarpanch and the villagers shocked.

The villagers of Lakshmi Sagar in Pulkal mandal had banned liquor sales some five years ago by passing a resolution in the panchayat. The special officer had also strictly enforced the liquor ban after the panchayat tenure came to an end.

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However, five liquor outlets with belt shops were opened all of sudden on Wednesday night in Lakshmi Sagar village, which hardly had a population of about 1,200. When villagers questioned the belt shop owners and demanded their closure, they refused to budge apparently, with support from the officials.

When newly-elected sarpanch Uppari Lakshman called the Jogipet excise Inspector Sagar Reddy to complain, he got a shocking reply. The excise inspector exhorted the sarpanch to support the liquor sales. The communication, recorded on a mobile phone, shocked everyone.

The officer argued that sarpanches were part of the government which could not function without the sale of liquor in villages. Lakshman had no other choice but to approach the district panchayat officer and other officials concerned.

Villagers argue that the excise officials themselves have been encouraging traders to open new belt shops as liquor sales have fallen considerably in Jogipet circle. The department was aiming to generate about Rs 50,000 in daily revenue from this village alone.

Five years ago the village had banned liquor consumption, after people were frequently falling ill and quarrelling with each other. Interestingly, the village falls under Health Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha constituency.