Pilibhit Liquor Shop Protest Turns Violent: Women Smash Bottles, Clash With Police Near Indo-Nepal Border Village
Tension gripped a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district on Thursday after a massive protest led by women against the opening of two liquor shops spiralled into chaos, leaving several people injured and government vehicles damaged.
The unrest broke out in Boondibhood village, located barely 200 metres from the Indo-Nepal border, when nearly 150 women carrying sticks stormed the proposed liquor outlets.
In dramatic scenes, the protesters dragged liquor bottles and beer cans out of the shops, threw them onto the road, and smashed them in anger over the administration’s decision to allow alcohol sales in the village.
What began as a protest soon turned into a confrontation when teams from the district administration, police, and excise department reached the village to pacify residents and assist in opening the shops.
According to police, the situation quickly escalated into violence. Officials alleged that protesters attacked government personnel with sticks and hurled stones at them.
Tehsildar Virendra Kumar Singh and several other officials reportedly sustained injuries during the clash. Three government vehicles, including a bus, were also damaged amid the stone-pelting and chaos.
Villagers, however, presented a very different version of events. Residents claimed that women protesters were injured after police and administrative personnel allegedly resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
According to villagers, several injured women are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
Residents said the atmosphere became more volatile after men in the village witnessed women being allegedly beaten during the protest. Many then joined the agitation, leading to further clashes with officials.
Police have registered an FIR at Madhav Tanda police station against 45 villagers, including 30 women and 15 unidentified individuals.
The charges include rioting, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from performing their duty, and property damage.
The complaint was filed by Excise Inspector Deepak Kumar.
Prateek Dahiya said that no arrests had been made so far. He stated that the protest initially involved around 100 to 150 women before other villagers joined the demonstration.
Dahiya also denied allegations that police used force against protesters.
He acknowledged that some villagers may have suffered injuries during the unrest, but said no formal complaint regarding police action had been received.
Boondibhood village, home to nearly 3,000 residents, is largely inhabited by members of Backward and Scheduled Caste communities, most of whom depend on farming for their livelihood.
Police said two liquor outlets — a country liquor shop and a composite liquor shop — had been allotted in the village last month.
Separate premises were identified for the outlets by the licence holders. Since then, villagers have consistently opposed the move despite repeated visits by administrative officials attempting to convince them.
Former village pradhan Chandradeep Rajbhar said residents feared that opening liquor shops would increase alcohol consumption and disturb the social fabric of the village.
“The shops are being opened at a crossing frequently used by women and children while going to the market.
Temples and schools are also located nearby. Despite our objections, officials were trying to forcibly open the liquor shops,” he alleged.
Rajbhar further claimed that alcohol consumption in the village is currently limited to only a small number of people and that residents do not want the problem to grow.
Another villager, Sunil Kumar Rajbhar, echoed similar concerns. He said residents fear that once liquor becomes easily available, more people — especially youth — may develop drinking habits, affecting peace and harmony in the village.
“We are worried that the social environment of the village will change completely if these shops start functioning,” he said.
