Locals ransack toddy shop in Anantapur for selling adulterated, harmful stuff

Anantapur: Locals led by sarpanch of the Rajiv Colony here ransacked a toddy shop as it supplied adulterated toddy and spoiled the health of the people. THe activists destroyed the toddy preservatives and bottles there on Tuesday.

They poured the bottles of toddy on the main road and also blocked the entry of a toddy-laden vehicle.

Sarpanch Ashabi initiated the campaign to end adulterated toddy consumption in the colony where, a stage has come when even children as young as 10 are getting addicted to adulterated toddy mixed with dizoform and other harmful chemicals. Pure toddy is not available in the colony area.

The licensed toddy shop was getting adulterated stuff from other places. Not a single tree exists in the areas surrounding the Rajiv Colony for extraction of natural toddy. The majority of the inhabitants of the colony are labourers.

Rajiv Colony is located closer to Anantapur city but is designated a gram panchayat near the Lecturers’ Colony and the NH44. The toddy shop with licence from the prohibition and excise department was functional in the area for the past few years.

Sarpanch Ashabee said excise officials failed to check the purity of toddy being sold in the licensed shop. “The people of all ages are getting addicted to this and spoiling their health. Hence we initiated strong steps,” the sarpanch said.

A large number of people gathered and blocked entry to a vehicle filled with toddy cans and bottles that were being transported from rural areas to the colony. They destroyed the adulterated toddy.

Sarpanch Ahsabee urged the authorities to take stringent action against the toddy shop agency that has outlets in other areas too.