State steps up crackdown as illicit liquor seizures rise

Around 54,945 litres of illicit liquor has been seized and about 523 cases registered during raids conducted by special teams across the state since April, as the Excise Department intensifies its crackdown on illegal alcohol.

Highlighting the action taken, Excise Commissioner Yunus said the department had seized 21,637.166 litres of illicit liquor and 33,308.900 litres of ‘lahan’ from various locations across the state. He said in October, 309.340 litres of illicit liquor and 12 litres of ‘lahan’ were seized in the southern region of Shimla; 2,678.225 litres of illicit liquor and 14 litres of ‘lahan’ in the central region of Mandi; and 529.150 litres of liquor and 4,870 litres of ‘lahan’ in the northern region of Palampur. “Additionally, 286.09 litres of illicit liquor were seized in Police District Baddi, 2,090.625 litres in Kullu, 528.350 litres in Mandi and 286.045 litres in Una,” he added.

Yunus said the state government had directed district officials to take legal action against those involved in the trade.

“In October, the department seized large quantities of illicit liquor and several operational distilleries in the villages of Milwan, Thakurdwara, Barota, Bela Ludacha and Ulehriyan in the Damtal area of Nurpur police district were destroyed on the spot after taking appropriate legal action,” he said.

“In accordance with the directives of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the department has formed special teams at the district level to curb the smuggling of illicit liquor. Through these teams, an intensive campaign is being carried out across the state against illegal liquor activities. The department has constituted 35 special teams, including four each in Kullu and Chamba districts; three each in Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Mandi and Una districts and Nurpur police district; two each in Kangra, Sirmaur and Hamirpur districts and BBN Police District; and one team in Kinnaur district,” he said.

“The state government is keeping a close vigil on illegal activities and taking strict action as per the rules so that government revenue is not affected by the illegal liquor trade,” he added.

The Commissioner appealed to the public to share information related to illegal liquor production or trade via telephone (0177-2620426) and WhatsApp (94183-31426), as well as through helplines for the south zone (0177-2620426), north zone (01894-230186) and central zone (01905-223499), so that illegal activities can be curbed.