Kolkata, April 20 -- A liquor ban has come into force across Kolkata and the adjoining districts of North and South 24 Parganas from Monday, with authorities shutting down retail alcohol sales for nine days in a bid to prevent electoral malpractice.
The ban will remain in place till April 29. However, liquor sales will be permitted on April 24.
The ban includes both offline sales through liquor shops as well as online app-based liquor sales, a senior excise department official said.
The West Bengal elections will be held in two phases, with the first scheduled on April 23 and the second on April 29.
The directive follows instructions issued by the Election Commission of India, amid concerns over an unusual surge in alcohol sales during ...