Dehradun, Nov. 8 -- With locals continuing to protest demanding the closure of a liquor shop in Muni Ki Reti area of Rishikesh since October 27, after the murder of a 28-year-old man, the forest department has constituted a four-member panel to examine the status of land on which it is located. Local residents have alleged that the land on which the wine shop is located is part of a reserve forest. Meanwhile, the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change asked Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Samir Sinha to look into the matter on October 31. Divisional forest officer, Narendra Nagar forest division Diganth Nayak said, "We have constituted a committee under the chairmanship of an SDO-level officer to look into allegations about the status of land on which the liquor vend is located in Muni Ki Reti area. But, there is no clarity on the status of land. So we have written to the revenue department and Nagar Palika for a joint survey." "It would be early to comment on the matter....the panel's final report will clarify the matter," he said, adding that GPS can also be used for the examination of land. Mohit Dimri, convenor of the "Mool Niwas, Bhoo Kanoon Samanvay Sangharsh Samiti", said, "It is a holy town (Rishikesh). The liquor vend shouldn't be there. It allows criminal elements to thrive and eventually commit crimes. The murder of the 28-year-old man is a recent example." "Also, there are claims that the land on which the wine shop is located is a reserved forest. It should also be looked into," Dimri said, adding that the government should not just look at the revenue generation, but the lives of people and society as a whole. Anuradha Pal, excise commissioner, said, "The liquor shop (in Rishikesh) has nothing to do with the murder incident that took place on October 25. Some people with vested interests are staging protests against it....