RANCHI: The Congress party's functionaries and office-bearers (women's wing) on Wednesday pasted posters of Prime Minister

and chief minister

at several liquor shops of the city to demand complete prohibition of liquor sales in the state.

The wine store are are being run by

State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL), an arm of the state excise and prohibitions department.

Led by Jharkhand Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (JPMCC) president Gunjan Singh, workers pasted posters at different IMFL shops in Kishoregunj, Dhurwa and Upper Bazar areas. She said, "The posters of the PM and the CM are hung outside every government department. The liquor shops are also being run by the state government. Then why not use their posters outside the shops."

"Since JSBCL took over liquor sales, there has been a rise in criminal incidents across the state. It has led to fear among women and worry for their safety," Vinita Pathak, Ranchi Mahanagar JPMCC president, said. The posters were, however, taken down by shopkeepers soon after.

Opposition parties had criticised the state government on several occasions for taking over retail liquor sales after JSBCL took over in August 1, 2017. In December 2018, the state cabinet okayed a proposal to go back to the old arrangement of throwing liquor sales to private retailers sighting revenue losses to the tune of Rs 800 crore.