Man penalised for buying liquor from neighbouring village, goes missing

ADILABAD: A resident of Temburni village in Narsapur (G) mandal is missing after being fined Rs 30,000 by a village development committee for buying liquor from a neighbouring village. The committee allegedly threatened to socially ostracise him if he did not pay the fine.

Family members of the missing person claimed that the man might have died by suicide. His wife has lodged a police complaint.

The committee auctions the right to sell liquor in the village, which does not have a vend, to a private party and forces residents to buy liquor at higher prices from the “belt shop,” his family members alleged.

However, village leaders said that the man was in debt and his disappearance was part of his plan to avoid repaying loans. They also said that the development committee had ceased functioning last December, after being directed by the police to do so.

The man’s family maintained that the committee was still functional.