Jajpur: Hundreds of women have staged a one-day dharna in front of the statue of Gopabandhu in Vyas Nagar town in the district to press for their demand of total ban on liquor in the municipality town.

The Naba Utakala Mahila Samiti of Jajpur Road organised the dharna on Friday. Noted trade union leader Bidyadhar Mohanty, anti-liquor activist Biswajit Mohanty, Vyas Nagar chairperson Sabita Rout and former Vyas Nagar chairman Rasananda Moihanty joined the brigade.

Earlier in the morning, the demonstrators, led by the samiti secretary Jayanti Jena, walked up to the statue of Gopapandhu at Gopabandhu Chhak in Vyas Nagar town, raising anti-liquor slogan. They demanded complete ban on the sale of liquor there and declare it a liquor-free town. Later, they sat on a dharna before the statue, holding cards in support of their demand.

"Because of liquor consumption by men in the region, the cases of crime against women, domestic violence, murder, snatching, road accident and brawl among villagers have become an order of the day," said Jena. "We demand complete ban on alcohol in Vyas Nagar town as consumption of liquor is the prime factor behind all the crimes," she said.

She also demanded the ban on alcohol in the district, and even across the state, for the greater interest of the people. She threatened to intensify the anti-liquor movement in the district, if the state government fails to fulfil their demands.

"At present, we are making people understand about the ill effects of liquor and how it destroys family life. We are also holding silent protest in various places across the district. If the government fails to implement a complete ban on liquor, we will intensify our agitation," she said.

Trade union leader Mohanty echoed the same, demanding a blanket ban on consumption and manufacture of liquor in the state.

"Like Bihar, we want a blanket ban on both consumption and manufacture of liquor in Odisha. If Kerala and Bihar, which were getting good revenue from the liquor to the state exchequers, could ban it, why is our government keeping quiet on the issue?" he asked.