Protest in Jammu Calls for Ban on Alcohol Sales in Occupied Kashmir

Protest in Jammu Calls for Ban on Alcohol Sales in Occupied Kashmir
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A protest march took place in Jammu, in the occupied Kashmir, organized by local activists demanding a ban on alcohol sales, coinciding with the budget session of the region’s legislative assembly.

The march was led by Sunil Dimple, head of the “Mission to Establish Jammu and Kashmir State” movement. Participants carried slogans calling for legislation to prohibit alcohol sales in Jammu and Kashmir, urging lawmakers to include the proposal on the current session’s agenda.

According to the Kashmir Media Service, Dimple told protesters that activists would continue demonstrations until their demand to ban alcohol in Jammu city and Katra is addressed. He criticized government policies on alcohol sales, noting that following the repeal of Article 370, more than 300 alcohol shops opened in the region. Dimple argued that this policy harms local communities, especially poorer segments of society.

He emphasized that increasing government revenue should not come at the expense of youth health and future prospects, calling for measures to protect society from the effects of alcohol. Dimple also urged all members of the legislative assembly to unite in passing a law banning alcohol sales in Jammu and Kashmir, citing Indian states such as Gujarat, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh as examples that enforce similar restrictions.