Illegal liquor sales flourish outside permitted hours in Aligarh village despite police patrols

Illegal liquor sales are thriving outside permitted hours in Bara Gaon village under Lodha police station jurisdiction in Aligarh district, with residents alleging that alcohol is being sold openly from a house adjacent to the licensed liquor shop from as early as five in the morning until late at night. Locals claim that buyers are charged an additional twenty rupees to purchase alcohol either before the official shop opens or after it closes for the day, despite regular police patrols in the area.

The illegal operation has apparently become so brazen that villagers are now openly displaying evidence of the after-hours trade. On Sunday around nine o'clock, when Lodha police arrived at the village to investigate a theft incident, residents openly brought out liquor bottles and showed them to the officers, pointing to the illicit sales happening right next door to the authorized outlet.

The allegations raise serious questions about both regulatory compliance and law enforcement oversight in the area. Licensed liquor vendors in Uttar Pradesh are required to operate only during stipulated hours, and selling alcohol outside these timings constitutes a criminal offense under excise laws. The fact that such sales are reportedly continuing despite police presence suggests either inadequate monitoring or possible complicity.

Residents of Bara Gaon appear frustrated enough with the situation to confront police directly with evidence during their visit. The practice of charging a premium for off-hours sales indicates an organized racket rather than isolated incidents. The proximity of the illegal operation to the licensed shop also raises concerns about whether the same operators are involved in both legitimate and illicit sales.

District excise authorities and senior police officials will now face pressure to investigate the allegations thoroughly and take strict action against those involved in violating licensing norms and selling liquor outside permitted hours in the village.