Priyanka Tiwari
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In a dramatic protest against a local liquor shop in Mehboobganj market of Ayodhya’s Gosaiganj area, a man named Vikas Verma locked himself inside the shop with a bottle of petrol, threatening to commit suicide. The incident unfolded on Tuesday morning and lasted for nearly four hours.
Vikas, upset over the shop’s location, reportedly attempted this extreme act after his previous written complaint to the District Magistrate (DM) yielded no action. The liquor shop had continued operating despite community objections.
Incident Timeline
10:00 AM: A new contractor opened the liquor shop for the new fiscal session. Vikas entered the premises with petrol and locked himself inside.
He allegedly threatened to set himself on fire if the shop wasn't removed.
Local police from Gosaiganj police station reached the spot but failed to remove him.
Senior officials including SDM Sadar and CO Sadar arrived later and spent around four hours persuading Vikas to come out safely.
Eventually, Vikas was taken into custody for further questioning.
Background: Petition Ignored by Authorities
A week prior to the incident, Vikas and a woman had submitted a signed request to the district administration demanding the removal of the liquor shop. With no official response, tensions escalated when the shop resumed operations under a new license.
Public Reaction and Ayodhya's Sensitivity
Given Ayodhya’s national prominence due to the Ram Temple, any form of unrest in the city quickly draws attention. This incident, too, has ignited widespread discussion on social media and local platforms about administrative inaction and public frustration.
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