SRINAGAR, May 15: A protest organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking a complete prohibition on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir was stopped by police in Srinagar on Friday, with several party leaders briefly detained during the demonstration.
According to officials, a large number of BJP workers and senior leaders gathered near Ram Munshi Bagh Park in the city and launched a protest march demanding a total ban on liquor sales across the Union Territory. Raising slogans in support of prohibition, the protesters attempted to move towards the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Gupkar.
Police personnel deployed in the area intercepted the march before it could proceed further. Officials said some BJP leaders were taken into preventive custody outside the chief minister’s residence to avoid any breach of law and order.
The demonstration led to brief tension in the area as protesters continued to press for stricter action against liquor availability in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the situation remained under control, and police later dispersed the gathering peacefully without any reported incident of violence.
The BJP has recently intensified its campaign seeking a complete liquor ban in the Union Territory, claiming that unrestricted sale of alcohol is negatively affecting society and harming the younger generation. Party leaders at the protest urged the administration to formulate a stronger policy on alcohol regulation and take steps towards prohibition.
Security arrangements were tightened in parts of Srinagar, especially around the Gupkar area, to prevent the protest from escalating. Traffic movement in nearby localities was also briefly affected during the demonstration.
Officials confirmed that all detained BJP leaders and workers were later released after the protest concluded peacefully.