Hazare to set up ‘gramrakshak dal’ to end illegal liquor business

PUNE: Social activist Anna Hazare plans to set up “gramrakshak dal” in Parner tehsil of Ahmednagar district on an experimental basis. It will be launched aiming

PUNE: Social activist Anna Hazare plans to set up “gramrakshak dal” in Parner tehsil of Ahmednagar district on an experimental basis. It will be launched aiming to stop all illicit business activities in rural areas.

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Hazare is expected to make the announcement in a few days. Sources close to Hazare said that he was mainly concerned about the illegal sale of liquor in rural Maharashtra as he considers it to be the main reason for increasing incidents of crime, including offences against women.

According to sources, the “gramrakshak dal” idea occurred to the social activist after his meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during the monsoon session of the Assembly. Fadnavis had apparently responded positively to the idea and requested Hazare to send him a model.

Currently, Hazare is working on the model of the “gramrakshak dal” and he plans set up such groups in Parner tehsil of Ahmednagar district, where he has been working for the past three decades.

Among the suggestions that the activist had made to the CM regarding setting up of this group included the members, comprising of all social groups, be authorized to carry out raids and conduct panchnama of illegal business. Hazare had also advised that there should be a specific deadline for the police to take action against the accused and they be given three to ten years in prison, if found guilty.