Andhra Pradesh

Lok Satta men arrested, freed

VIZIANAGARAM: The Lok Satta Party that has been organising various forms of protests since the notification inviting tenders for liquor shops was issued on June 6 staged a dharna at the Collector’s office on Monday.

At one stage tension mounted when the party activists rushed towards the auditorium where the tenders were being opened.

They raised slogans demanding that opening of tenders be stopped and imposed restrictions on the sale of liquor.

The police, who were present in good number escorted the party men out and later arrested them. B.A. Babji, the party district president, I. Anantalakshmi, zonal coordinator of Mahila Satta and 23 others were arrested. One town police released them later.

In spite of their protests the bids were opened amid tight security.

The police allowed those having permission letters issued by the Excise and Prohibition Department.

The bid amount touched unimaginable figures for shops located in prime areas and also where the bidders failed to form a syndicate. A bidder quoted Rs.77,00,002 for a shop in Jami and another Rs.99 lakhs for a shop on NH-5.

According to officials, the process would continue till late in the night as they have to scrutinise all the 1,546 tenders received for the 202 shops.

In 2006, the number of tenders received for the same number of shops was only 761.

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