Little India to have a liquor-free weekend

Letters have been sent out to businesses in Little India, informing them that their liquor licences will be suspended this weekend.

The move comes in the wake of Sunday evening's riot in Race Course Road which involved 400 people and was sparked off by a 33-year-old Indian national being fatally run over by a bus.

The suspension will "help to stabilise the situation and allow the Singapore Police Force to assess the next steps, in consultation with the various stakeholders", read the letter from the Liquors Licensing Board, which was shared with the media.

The measures will apply on Saturday and Sunday, and, if the licences extend past midnight, to Monday too. An earlier letter sent out to merchants had included Friday in the licence suspension, but this was later corrected.

Enforcement action will be taken against businesses which violate the suspension order, police said, and they may have their liquor licences revoked.

Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran had indicated earlier that alcohol consumption in the area would also be banned this weekend.

Meanwhile, three more Indian nationals were charged in court with rioting yesterday. They were accused of damaging a bus with a dustbin, wooden stick, hardened concrete, bottles and a metal drain cover with at least five others.

The three work-permit holders - Rajendran Ranjan, 22; Moorthy Kabildev, 24, and Sathiyamoorthy Sivaraman, 26 - were additions to an initial group of 24 who were charged with rioting on Tuesday.

All 27 charged so far have been remanded for further investigation. Rioting here carries a jail term of up to seven years, and possible caning.

Past newspaper reports have noted liquor stores sprouting up in Little India, where migrant workers flock to on Sundays. The New Paper found that seven of the 23 shops in Chander Road sell booze.

The temporary ban is welcomed by residents in the area, but it has come as a shock to the many liquor-store owners.

One such owner, who declined to be named, said if revenues suffer, he will not be able to pay his workers and he will have to wind up the business.

"It was raining on Sunday and alcohol sales were slow. I don't think the riot was caused by drunkenness," he said. But Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew had said alcohol could have been a contributory factor.

University undergrad Kelvin Yap, 24, who lives in Klang Lane, said he often sees drunk foreign workers congregating near his estate on Sunday evenings.

"They shout and cheer, and some just lie down and sleep there till Monday," Mr Yap added.

The police said yesterday they have begun installing CCTV cameras in the vicinity of Race Course Road and Buffalo Road. A total of 26 cameras will be put up.

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