Srinagar, Jan 22: The Srinagarites of this tourist hub are again up in arms against running of liquor shops on the Boulevard. This time, the resentment is in reaction to the killing of a woman –crushed to death by a drunken driver, two days ago in the area.
 Two local organizations –Awami Intizaamiya Committee Buchwara led by Muhammad Sharief and Dalgate Welfare Committee headed by Fida Hussain has appealed the state government to shift the liquor shops from the area.
 “This is a shame for us that even though belonging to Muslim community, an activity which is Haram runs in our area,” the locals said.
 The Awami Intizaamiya Committee Buchwara said in the past as well, the locals had resented the government move of allowing the liquor shops to operate in the area.
 “The last time we took to streets and got police batons in return. But now again we are being compelled to stage protest demonstrations because the government failed to shift the shops from this area,” said a delegation of locals while mourning the death of Shaheena Wani of Kohnakhan Dalgate killed on Wednesday by the speeding van driver. Shaheena’s daughter Saaqiba is battling for life at hospital.
 The mother-daughter duo was walking on the footpath when the speeding van jumped over it hitting them.
 Police has confirmed the eyewitness claims that the accused driver, Asadullah Sheikh was drunk.
 The locals said the drunkard was there to buy liquor.
 One of the major wine shops runs at the JKTDC owned Hotel Heemal while the two are in the nearby buildings on the Boulevard, City’s tourist hub.
 Apart from the residents, even the traders are annoyed with the   business.
 Linking the presence of drunkards to the sale of liquor, a delegation of shop owners said “It has become nuisance to work in the area.”
 The shopkeepers said it was impossible for them to keep shops open in the evening due to the nuisance created by the drunkards whose number swells after sunset.
  “They abuse the shopkeepers and the shoppers so we close down the shops early,” the traders said.
 The nuisance, they said, was affecting their business as people avoid the area due to the rush of the anti-social elements.
 Last year, Forum Against Social Evils had appealed the government to closedown the liquor shops as it apart from “other evils, hurts religious sentiments of the people.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST