Those selling hooch will have their limbs chopped off, warn Maoists

Maoists have issued a gory diktat to liquor dealers in Jharkhand’s Dumuria area threatening to chop off their limbs if they sell liquor in the area during the village football tournament which began Saturday.

The CPI (Maoist) put up red-letter posters warning against sale of liquor in the Kantasole area and Begnadih football ground where the tournament is being held. The posters warned that a close watch would also be kept on the event organisers.

Meanwhile, residents in the neighbouring Dungridih village have been holding an anti-hooch drive for the past three days by socially ostracising and penalising those dealing with country liquor.

Led by village head Shyam Das Soren, villagers put up barriers on all entry and exit points of the Bhatin panchayat to restrict entry of people under the influence of alcohol. Soren said, “Our area is infamous for putrefied hooch. In a rough estimate over 50 villagers died due to intoxication in our village over the past few years.”

Praising the Congress and BJP, villagers said, “Two opponent parties came to a single platform to announce their unanimous support for our anti hooch movement.”