Nagpur: Tension gripped the sleepy hamlet of Kidangipaar in Amgaon tehsil in Gondia district, 150km off Nagpur, after protests seeking closure of a country liquor shop triggered mob violence earlier this week, leaving 32 policemen injured, four of them seriously. At least 80 villagers have been named in the FIR for arson and stone-pelting. A woman police officer, Nikam, suffered multiple fractures, as per sources.Kidangipaar, a village of 2,500 residents known for its cleanliness and communal harmony, has been on edge since the agitation seeking liquor ban intensified. Village women have been in the vanguard of protests, asserting the liquor outlet was ruining families, disrupting social stability, and hindering development.The situation escalated on Monday when a police team reached the residence of key protester, Santosh Donode, to arrest him and his family members following an earlier dispute. Soon, hundreds of villagers assembled at the spot and demanded immediate closure of the desi booze outlet. Donode has two offences of assault and breach of peace.What began as a peaceful protest turned violent, with some demonstrators allegedly hurling stones at police. In the ensuing clash, 32 police personnel sustained injuries. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd and regain control. Several villagers were also injured during the confrontation. Santosh Donode, along with his wife Vaishnavi and daughter Charulata, was arrested and remanded in four-day police custody. A case has been registered against 80 villagers, including Donode, for as rioting, causing hurt, and obstructing public servants. The agitation traces back to March 20, when Kidangipaar villagers, led by women and youth, staged demonstrations in front of Amgaon tehsil office and submitted a memorandum demanding permanent shutdown of the liquor shop. They also demanded a referendum over the closure.The villagers had warned of escalating their stir with rasta roko, rail roko, and even threats of self-immolation if the booze outlet was not shut by April 10. The agitators included Donode, Chuneshwari Harinkhee, Pramila Kharole, Chaman Pusam and Rupkala Bhendarkar. However, these plans have since been put on hold.Earlier, on April 5, a police team, including women officers Jayshree Gavhane and Surekha Awtare, had visited Donode’s residence to serve a prohibitory notice under Section 168. Donode allegedly refused to accept the notice, tore it, and asked the officers to leave, leading to a brief scuffle. When police returned the next day to arrest Donode, tensions flared up. Villagers lay siege to the police team and insisted that if Donode was being arrested for demanding prohibition, the entire community should also be arrested.Senior officials, including SP Gorakh Bhamare, additional SP Abhay Dongre, SDPO Pramod Madame, and PI Tirupati Rane rushed to the spot and appealed for calm. “The protest revolves around a licensed liquor shop and that the referendum was delayed due to technical reasons. The state excise department has been requested to shut the outlet, considering the law and order situation,” Bhamare said. He assured villagers that justice would be ensured.Despite repeated appeals, villagers remained adamant and continued their sit-in protest outside Amgaon police station, demanding the release of the Donode family.Authorities have deployed a police contingent in the area as the April 10 deadline nears. Efforts are underway through dialogue with community leaders and representatives to defuse tensions and prevent escalation. Police have urged residents to maintain peace and resolve the issue through democratic means rather than confrontation, said Bhamare.
