MUMBAI, May 28: The anti-liquor campaign launched by women of the fishing village of Uttan, Bhayander west, seems to have stirred officialdom into action. The Bhayander police have begun a crackdown on illegal liquor dens in Mira-Bhayander and Uttan, nabbing over 100 and externing at least 17.There are over 500 liquor dens in Mira-Bhayander, of which 150 are in Uttan alone. The fisherwomen had, as reported by Express Newsline, demanded that the dens be closed down as they had reduced the fishermen to drunk idlers who skipped work, drank and beat up their wives. Said Inspector P B Niphade, ``Over 225 raids were conducted in the last one year on illegal dens within the Mira-Bhayander limits and several people have been arrested.'' He added that while regular raids are being conducted, the police are often unable to act on them due to a severe staff crunch. There are exactly three unarmed police constables to keep the peace in Uttan, where over 20,000 families reside.However, residents of Uttandismissed the police crackdown as nothing but an `eyewash'. ``It is the regular hafta to the police that keeps the den owners away from all trouble. We, on the other hand, have no choice but to keep mum and tolerate them,'' said a resident.
