Women Lead ‘Janata Raid’ on Illegal Liquor Den in Surat

Surat | Gujarat — Tension erupted in Surat’s Udhana area after angry residents — led by local women — stormed an alleged illegal liquor den operating openly near M4 Market, exposing what many described as a “mini bar” functioning fearlessly despite Gujarat’s prohibition laws.

The dramatic “Janata Raid,” captured in multiple viral videos, has triggered outrage across the city and raised serious questions about prohibition enforcement and alleged political protection being extended to bootleggers.

In one of the videos circulating widely on social media, a furious local youth can be heard shouting, “My sister was molested here because of this liquor adda!” The allegation further inflamed the crowd, especially the women present at the scene, who accused bootleggers of turning the locality into a hub of crime, harassment and social destruction.

Eyewitnesses said the atmosphere resembled an open bar, with customers allegedly drinking openly while domestic and foreign liquor bottles were stocked in large quantities. Plastic chairs, seating arrangements and other facilities for drinkers were also reportedly found inside the premises.

“As mothers and sisters, how long should we stay silent? Families are being destroyed because of liquor and anti-social activities here,” a woman protesting during the raid said in the viral footage. The women called out on Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi on where the liquor came from and why it is sold in the open ground.

The situation turned chaotic when an unidentified man allegedly began preventing people from uploading videos online. His attempts to stop recording further angered the crowd, with several women confronting him directly during the raid.

According to locals, many accused persons fled immediately after seeing residents gather in large numbers, while only a few individuals were found at the spot when police arrived.

Police Inspector R.M. Thakor confirmed that authorities responded after receiving information through the 112 emergency helpline late at night. “A police team immediately reached the location. Legal action is currently underway and a case is being registered in the matter,” he said.

The controversy intensified after women in the viral videos directly questioned the state’s prohibition machinery and the BJP government over the alleged flourishing liquor trade in Surat.

“Liquor is banned in Gujarat, then where is this alcohol coming from?” one woman asked in the video while referring to Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi. She further alleged that many deaths and broken families in the area were linked to illegal alcohol activities.

Some residents also claimed during the protest that the liquor operation was allegedly functioning under the patronage of influential local figures, including a former corporator. However, no official confirmation regarding these allegations has been made by police.

Adding a political dimension to the incident, members of social and political organizations, including Congress workers and Bhim Army activists, were seen participating in the public raid and demanding strict action against bootleggers.

Opposition voices and activists have sharply criticized Surat Police, alleging that repeated failures in prohibition enforcement have forced ordinary citizens to “take the law into their own hands.”