Shivpora locals protest, demand closure of wine shop near school

Srinagar, Dec 14: The opening of a liquor shop near a school in the Srinagar outskirts of Shiv Pora locality triggered a protest on Wednesday with many, including some Kashmiri Pandits residing in the vicinity calling for its closure.
Locals from Shivpora locality that falls under the jurisdiction of Badamibagh Cantonment Board staged a protest demanding the closure of liquor shop as soon as possible.
Some Kashmiri Pandits who reside in the locality were also part of the protest.
One of the protesters who identified himself as Raviji Razdan told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that setting up a liquor shop close to a school will badly impact the students. He said authorities should shift this liquor shop to any other place keeping the apprehensions f the locals in view.
“The new liquor shop has been set up near a school. Please tell me, how students will learn when there is a liquor shop on one side and a cinema on the other,” Razdan said.
He said there are many schools in the locality. “Law itself prohibits anybody from setting up a liquor shop close to a school, religious place or in a residential area. Our mothers and sisters won’t feel secure in presence of this liquor shop,” he added.
One of the protesters termed the opening of a wine shop, close to a school, as “preposterous and mischievous”. [KNT]