Illegal activities flourish in Ladsawangi beat; Locals allege official apathy

The beat covers 16 villages and localities including Murumkheda, Lamkana, Hatmali, Anjandoh, Naigavhan, Pimpalkhuta, Sayyadpur, Selud, Aurangpur and a stretch of the Karmad–Ladsawangi State Highway, where liquor is allegedly sold at several hotels and dhabas under official protection. Locals claim fixed monthly payments are collected from operators: Rs 4,000–5,000 from hotel and dhaba owners for police, State Excise and Local Crime Branch; Rs 2,000 from small liquor vendors; Rs 2,000 per sand tractor, Rs 5,000 for small Hyva and Rs 10,000 for large Hyva trucks; Rs 50,000 for gambling operations; and Rs 2,000 from gutkha sellers. Easy liquor access is reportedly pushing minors into addiction, causing financial and domestic distress. Residents, especially women, fear rising law-and-order issues and late-night suspicious activity. Kishor Barbale of the Village De-addiction Organisation said illegal liquor has surged over the past year, hampering anti-addiction efforts and driving rural youth towards substance abuse, and sought intervention from the Superintendent of Police. Zilla Parishad member Radhakisan Pathade demanded strict action. Sub-divisional police officer (Rural) Pooja Nangare urged citizens to report illegal activities, assuring action.