Paradip: Hundreds of anti-liquor campaigners, mostly women, ransacked an unlicensed and illegal liquor unit at Sukhuakhola slum colony on the outskirts of Paradip port town, prompting police to beef up security.

As tension prevails in the locality, armed police personnel have been deployed to ensure law and order, said Paradip police station inspector Subhranshu Nayak.

"We had no knowledge of the illegal unit operating in the locality. The local residents drew our attention to it only on Monday. We did not intervene as angry women campaigners went on rampage and destroyed the shop," he said.

A 65-year-old woman, Minati Mandal, operated the shop. The police arrested Mandal on the spot and produced her in court under the Odisha Excise Act provisions, he said.

The liquor shop was doing great business at the slum where nearly 5,000 people live.

"It was vitiating the peaceful environs of the colony. Alcohol addiction among male members was steadily rising ever since the liquor shop started operating. The authorities had failed to redress our grievance. So, we were forced to take law into our hands and set the shop on fire," said Sundarmani Rout, a protester.

Alcoholism had become rampant prompting the local people to launch anti-liquor campaign in their area.

Criminal activities are taking place frequently in the localities, while alcoholic habits among the male earning members are adversely affecting families.

"In spite of everything, the acts of violence displayed on Monday are condemnable. Agitations need to be peaceful," said Kujang tehsildar Basudeb Satpathy.