Kerala - Alappuzha   

Toddy shops closed in protest against raids

ALAPPUZHA: The raids conducted on toddy shops by the Inter-State Illicit Spirit Movement Investigation Team led by Inspector-General of Police (Crime) Rishi Raj Singh have led to a conflict between toddy shop owners on the one hand and toddy tappers and employees of these shops on the other.

The two raids conducted in the last one week leading to the seizure of 15,000 litres of spurious toddy and 1,470 litres of illicit spirit drew widespread protest from toddy shop owners who have already closed down over 300 toddy shops in the southern part of the district, which includes Karthikapally, Kayamkulam, Haripad, Mavelikara and Nooranad.

The raids were concentrated in this region, believed to be the spirit capital of the State, on the basis of tip-offs received by the team.

As toddy shops have downed shutters, there has been a shortage of takers for toddy from tappers. It has also affected the livelihood of the employees of these shops. The Chethu Thozhilali Union (CITU) has launched a protest against the toddy shop owners.

The union has also declared its support for raids on illicit spirit, as the flow of spirit to toddy shops was leading to a reduced demand from shop owners for pure toddy.

SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, who the toddy shop owners and contractors approached after the raid on December 13, has asked the Government to “rein in” Mr. Singh. Mr. Natesan’s reasoning was that Mr. Singh was deputed to curb the flow of illicit spirit and that he needed not have raided toddy shops. “The Excise Department will raid toddy shops,” Mr. Natesan said. On the other hand, State secretary of the Kallu Chethu Vyavasaya Thozhilali Union M. Thankachen said the union would organise toddy tappers and toddy shop employees for a protest march to the Excise Circle office at Haripad on Friday. “We are not against the raids, as curbs on illicit spirit would help toddy tappers. But the Excise and police are now raiding shops that are not selling spurious toddy, ” he said.

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