Booze control until end of Indian Idol Finale

Darjeeling / Kolkata : Indian Idol contestant Prashant Tamang surely enjoys a huge fan base in his hometown, Darjeeling, but the frenzy over his selection to the finals, has the district administration worried.

Fearing raucous parties, it has ordered all liquor shops to remain closed from September 22 to September 24 from 5:00 pm onwards. The finals for Indian Idol are scheduled on September 23.

“We have received reports that in some localities people especially the young crowd is getting out of control. So we have taken this decision to close all off-shops from September 22 to September 24 from 5:00 pm onwards, so that we don't have to face any untoward incident,” says District Magistrate, Darjeeling, Rajesh Pandey.

The decision comes as a surprise to both customers and liquor shop owners.
“I don’t think that there is going to be much of a difference. If they want to shut liquor shops that they should issue a notice,” says a liquor owner, Kishore.

But the prospect of a dry celebration isn't dampening the spirits of Prashant's fans.
Hundreds of them have been sending in their votes for him round the clock through SMS and phone.

Source: The Sikkim Times