Bhubaneswar: Even as the Odisha Government has prohibited sale of liquor at shops from the counters in the state, many gathered at several liquor shops here on Monday morning for purchasing directly.
Such scenes were witnessed in Bapuji Nagar and Station Bazaar areas of the city. As the shops opened for taking online order and providing home delivery service, people made a beeline at the counters for buying liquor.
Later, police reached the spot and resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse them besides closing the counters.
The state government has only permitted online sale of liquor through home delivery. However, home delivery of liquor order could not start on Sunday as the retail association had issues with Swiggy and Zomato taking orders. It was sorted out by the association and the Excise Commissioner, informed the Excise Commissioner Anjan Kumar Manik.
