In drive against bootleggers, cops nab 27

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 24

Tightening noose around bootleggers, the police arrested 27 persons here on Saturday during their drive against the sale and smuggling of illicit liquor.

The rural police busted two illegal stills manufacturing illicit liquor and recovered 2,880kg of ‘lahan’ during raids in various villages in the past 24 hours. According to the police, they also confiscated 151.5 litres of illicit liquor and 127 bottles during the raids.

The illegal distillery units were running in Vanjawala village that comes under the Ajnala police station and Fattuwal village, which comes under the Khilchian police station here. The rural police nabbed 14 persons and registered 38 cases of liquor smuggling.

The city police also registered 14 cases under the Excise Act on Saturday and arrested 13 persons in these cases.

In a major catch, the city police arrested Harish Kumar of Gurnam Nagar area while his two accomplices Gora and Jagga, both residents of Anngarh area, managed to give the police the slip. Of the total 623 bottles of liquor seized by the city police, 348 bottles were of different brands, besides a cane of illicit liquor, which were confiscated in from his possession.