Dipayal, November 14:

Most of the complaints lodged at the Doti district police are related to disputes arising after consumption of liquor.

Inspector at the District Police Office Dilip Deuba said seven persons in Doti district died in liquor-related disputes last year. Five to seven liquor-induced disputes are brought before the police every month, he added.

The disputes that cannot be solved by the local police posts and area police offices are brought to the district police office, said sub-inspector Bhim Dutt Joshi. “Ninety-five per cent of the disputes in the district occur after consumption of liquor,” he added.

DSP Moti Singh Dhamai said, “The sale of hooch is so widespread, it is an arduous task trying to curtail it.”

The sale of liquor in rural areas goes up especially during melas and festivals, said former VDC chairman Sobhan Singh Rawal. Most of the liquor is carted into the rural areas from district headquarters Dipayal, he added. He said after some concerned locals began overseeing the operation of liquor sales depots in rural areas, the quantum of sales has dropped to some extent.

“It is women who are most affected by this malaise. The police should work with them to check the menfolk’s liquor consumption,” said Dipayal-based AIDS Control Programme coordinator Sulochana Joshi.

Constituency No 3 chairman of the Nepali Congress Padam Singh Bam said all the political parties should mobilise their cadres to check this evil practice.