SAD workers protest against spurious liquor trade in area

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, August 14

A large number of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers protesting against the spurious liquor trade flourishing in the area, organised a motorcycle rally in the border areas today and gheraoed the residence of Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, Khemkaran MLA, for hours together in Mehmudpur village, the native village of the MLA.

SAD workers burnt the effigy of the MLA and the then local SSP Dhruv Dahiya as the SAD had been blaming that the police officer was hands-in-glove with the ruling party leaders in the trade.

Virsa Singh Valtoha, District President SAD and former MLA led the party workers. The SAD workers marched in different villages of the area and at the end of the march reached Mehmudpur village where they gheraoed the residence of the MLA Sukhpal Singh Bhullar.

Virsa Singh Valtoha, in his address, said the spurious liquor had claimed as many as 100 precious lives. He alleged that the trade was on in its full swing in the border area. He also alleged that the leaders of the ruling party were patronising the accused of the trade. He said residents of the area, sent WhatsApp messages to the then SSP Dhruv Dahiya regarding illegal distilling of liquor, yet no action against the accused, inspite of the ample evidence given by the residents.

The SAD leader said about two weeks back, the district police had seized a huge quantity of illicit liquor and lahan from the residence of Major Singh and his brother Sukhwant Singh, alias, Sukh Mehmudpur, who were the leaders of the Congress party.

He said it proved the allegation of the residents that illicit liquor trade was running in the border area in full swing. He alleged that the trade was running under the patronage of ruling party leaders with the connivance of the police officials. The agitated SAD workers burnt the effigy of the MLA and the then district police Dhruv Dahiya for his negligence to take action against the element indulging in the spurious liquor trade. Heavy police forces were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. The SAD leader demanded a CBI probe into the spurious liquor trade.