Smugglers’ racket busted

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11

The Kotwali police has busted a liquor smuggling racket and nabbed two persons in this connection. The police recovered 107 cases of liquor along with four cars. The huge cache of liquor was to be supplied in Ludhiana at the behest of some Chandigarh-based wine contractor.

The arrested accused were identified as Rajesh Kumar, alias Bhalla, resident of Salem Tabri, and Baljinder Singh, a resident of Rohley village, in Samrala. Apart from recovering 107 cases of liquor, 1,400 intoxicated tablets were also recovered from the accused. Some of their aides, who managed to escape, were identified as Amit of Chandni Chowk in Salem Tabri, Sikandar of Chauni Mohalla, Monu, Karan, Rachpal and Manna.

While giving details of the case in a press conference, Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Sachin Gupta and the SHO, Kotwali, Inspector Harjinder Singh Bhatti said they received a tip off that some smugglers were coming from Chandigarh with huge cache of liquor. Accordingly, a naka was laid and a cavalcade of four vehicles, including two Swift, Zen and Innova, were stopped for checking. ACP Gupta said the accused had put fake number plates on their vehicles to mislead the police.

Liquor picked up from Chandigarh

ACP Gupta said during questioning the accused disclosed that they picked liquor cases from a godown owned by a Chandigarh-based wine contractor. The accused had to drop liquor cache at some godowns, which belonged to a notorious smuggler in the city. “We are trying to identify the wine contractor and he may face legal action accordingly,” added the ACP.

Accused acted as contractors’ conduit 

The Kotwali SHO, Harjinder Singh Bhatti, said the accused were paid Rs 3,000 per delivery by key liquor smugglers, who sent the consignment. Before starting from Chandigarh, smugglers also sent one car ahead on the route to check for police nakas laid on the road.