Jalna, Sept 9 (PTI) The administration in Maharashtra’s Jalna district has ordered a complete ban on liquor sales in certain areas for two days, anticipating a large gathering at the protest venue of activist Manoj Jarange, officials said on Wednesday.
Jarange has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village for the past 12 days, pressing for various demands including reservation for the Maratha community and caste validity certificates.
With no settlement reached so far, Jarange has called a meeting of Maratha community members at the village, nearly 400 km from Mumbai, on September 12.
The agitation has been drawing hundreds of supporters of Jarange to the venue.
District Collector Ashima Mittal has ordered a ban on the sale
of alcohol within the jurisdiction of Gondi police station on September 9 and 10, said officials.
The administration apprehended that continued operation of wholesale liquor outlets could lead to untoward incidents and disturb public peace amid the gathering of protesters.
The authorities have also imposed restrictions on carrying weapons and assembling in groups of five until midnight on September 20, officials said.
The restrictions come ahead of the Pola festival on September 10, Ganeshotsav from September 14 to 25 and Marathwada Liberation Day on September 17, during which processions and other public programmes are expected to draw large crowds. PTI COR NR
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