Balangir: Bijakhaman residents resorted to roadblock on the NH-26, which connects Baragarh with Boriguma, demanding abolition of a newly opened foreign liquor shop by the side of the road.

Traffic was completely paralysed as hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road. The protesters, especially the women, squatted on the road and chanted slogans against the district administration for allowing the opening of the liquor shop in the locality.

Local police, led by the Town police station inspector in-charge and the Balangir tehsildar, rushed to the spot.

Local resident Pratik Banka said the liquor shop had disturbed the peace in the locality. "The liquor shop opened earlier this month has come as a curse to the residents of Bijakhaman. It has become a hub of criminals," he said.

Banka said there had been several incidents in the locality, which are linked to consumption of alcohol. "Since the liquor shop is situated on the national highway, a little distance away from the main town, it has become an ideal place for the drunkards. They create disturbances after getting drunk," he said.

Madhabi Kumari, a protester, said: "After the recent incidents of disturbances in our locality, we intimated the matter to the district administration and also to the police for action, but in vain. We are forced to hit the street."

Balangir town police station inspector-in-charge Gokulananda Sahu said: "We are inviting a delegate of the agitators for discussions. Hope we will find a way to solve the issue."