Telangana: Illegal liquor sales continue in Bhadrachalam belt shops on Independence Day

Illegal liquor sales continued in over 200 belt shops in Bhadrachalam town on Independence Day despite the ban. Shop owners overcharged customers, while excise authorities failed to intervene, raising law and order concerns and damaging the reputation of the temple town

Kothagudem: Illegal liquor sales continued unabated at belt shops in Bhadrachalam town even on Independence Day, when the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

Liquor was sold at belt shops on Temple Road, Cherla Road, ITDA Road, the bus stand area, and several residential colonies in the town on Friday. The belt shop owners reportedly overcharged customers, selling liquor at rates higher than usual.

As the sale of liquor was banned on Independence Day, the shop owners had reportedly bought and stockpiled large quantities of liquor a day in advance from licensed stores. Social activist Aluvala Raju complained that excise officials failed to prevent these illegal sales.

There are at least two belt shops in every area of the town, with over 200 belt shops in total. Several petitions submitted to excise authorities to regulate these outlets yielded no results. According to Raju, illegal liquor sales often lead to law and order issues and are damaging the reputation of the temple town.