Dhenkanal: The anti-liquor movement in Odisha further intensified after hundreds of villagers, including men, at Balarampur village under Sadar block in Dhenkanal district jostled with police protesting felling of trees in a nearby forest for establishment of a beer factory.
A violent clash ensued between the villagers and police forces in dhenkanal on saturday when the irate locals were protesting the felling of tress for setting up a beer factory.
The incident took place when the district administration began the process of tree felling to acquire land for the proposed liquor today. Though police forces were deployed at the site, the villagers scuffled with the district officials and cops in a bid to stop the tree cutting process. Besides, the agitating women were also seen guarding the trees by wrapping their arms around the same.
A land in the forest area has been allocated to a liquor company by IDCO for setting up of a beer factory.Saturday morning, police and district Collector visited the site for acquisition of land. After getting information, hundreds of men and women of the village rushed to the spot holding sticks to protest and had a face-off with the cops.
Later, the police detained 14 villagers from the spot to disperse the mob.
IDCO CMD Sanjay Singh evaded speaking to Media in Bhubaneswar
Sources said the forest houses around 958 big trees of various species.
