Overturned canter spreads cheer among Bacchus lovers

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 17

It was free-for-all as people made off with bottles of liquor scattered around after the canter in which these were being smuggled overturned near Papri village in the Sohana area in the wee hours of Thursday.

On getting information about the incident, cops reached the spot only to find several persons collecting and taking away liquor bottles.

Giving information, Inspector Tarlochan Singh, SHO, Sohana police station, said they have recovered 71 cases of English liquor from the spot. “We don’t know the exact quantity of liquor which was being smuggled in the vehicle,” said the SHO. 

The police have impounded the vehicle. The canter driver, however, managed to flee from the spot.

According to sources, the vehicle was carrying around 100 cases of liquor. 

“People looted around 24 cases, which come to more than 250 bottles,” said the sources. 

Inspector Tarlochan Singh said the liquor cases were hidden under sacks of some feed. “When the vehicle overturned, the liquor bottles scattered on the road. As the canter driver had escaped from the spot, residents of a nearby village, migrant labourers and passersby took away liquor bottles they could lay their hands on,” said Inspector Tarlochan Singh. 

“We have registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in this regard. Further investigations in the case are under way,” said the SHO.