Residents of Buddha Nagar in Bhubaneswar protest in front of the excise inspector’s office. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 8: Residents of Buddha Nagar today gheraoed the office of the excise inspector demanding action against the sale of illegal liquor and ganja in their locality.

A group of 40 to 50 residents alleged that despite repeated complaints to the excise officials, the authorities were not paying any heed. They said nearby slum dwellers had been indulging in illegal activities, which had increased the crime rate in their area. The excise authorities are yet to take any action.

Although the excise officials sent a team to conduct raids in the area, they also pleaded that lack of staff prevented them from conducting raids on a regular basis.

The residents, under the banner of Buddha Nagar Development Association, gheraoed the excise inspector’s office at Kalpana Square and shouted slogans against the authorities saying they were promoting illegal trade of liquor and other excise materials.

Dillip Kumar Mohanty, president of the association, said there were more than 10 illegal liquor sellers in the slum near their colony. “They have been running the business for many days. Most of these traders are women. Because of these shops, goons frequent the area. We feel unsafe because such trades are practised there,” said Mohanty.

More than 300 families stay in Buddha Nagar colony. “After we complained to the Laxmi Sagar police, there was frequent patrolling but unless these illegal activities stop, life will become unbearable for us,” said general secretary of the association Aswini Pattnaik.

There are many slum dwellings on either side of the railway station and railway tracks in the city. At most of these places, sources said, sale of illegal liquor as well as narcotic substances was flourishing. Excise inspector Samuel Ekka said that whenever they had received complaints, their teams had conducted raids and arrested many of the illegal traders.

“Lack of personnel prevents us from carrying out such raids frequently. We assure the residents full-fledged action against the illegal liquor shop owners in their area,” said Ekka.

Sources said there were only four constables and three officials to keep tabs on this kind of unlawful activities.