21 women arrested in Surat for consuming liquor at kitty party

As many as 21 women were arrested for allegedly consuming liquor at a party organised at a hotel here in Gujarat, the police said Saturday. Police raided the hotel located in Piplod locality of the city late last night after receiving a tip-off about an ongoing liquor party, an Umra police station official said.

The women were part of a kitty party, he said, adding that the police have recovered four empty bottles of IMFL. The women were taken to civil hospital for a blood test after the raid. They were booked under provisions of Prohibition Law.

The women were produced in court Saturday and were released on bail. In a separate case, six women and eight men were arrested from an apartment in Athwa Lines in Surat for allegedly consuming liquor, police said. Under the Gujarat Prohibition Law, manufacture, storage, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is a punishable offence.

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Earlier, Members of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sri Ram Sena submitted a memorandum to Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar on Friday. They demanded a ban on the consumption of alcohol and partying in the Central Business District (CBD) area of Bengaluru. The right-wing outfits in their memorandum stated that several crimes against women were reported in that area on New Year’s Eve and this was the reason behind their demand.

 Right Wing’s Demand Draconian?

Although it is a well-known fact that MG Road and Brigade Road have become synonymous with New Year’s Eve celebrations, the CBD area is infamous for crimes against women on the given day. But on the other hand, imposing restrictions on the movement of the general public is seen as a regressive move by some. 

Recounting The Bengaluru New Year Horror 

In 2017, Bengaluru grabbed national headlines on New Year’s Eve after it was reported that some drunk men passed lewd remarks, harassed and molested women on Brigade Road. The crimes took place reportedly despite the presence of 1,500 policemen in and around the CBD area. In 2018, as well a couple had alleged that some men groped women in the crowd. 

(With inputs from PTI)