Remote location, absence of any check keep trade going

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 4

The Excise and Taxation Department has intensified its drive to curb illicit distillation of liquor, as more than 100 people lost their lives after consuming spurious liquor in Punjab’s Majha region.

The department has raided several areas adjoining Mand area along the Sutlej, including Phillaur, Mehatpur, Lohian and Bilga. A total of 25 FIRs have been registered in these areas and 11 accused have been arrested.

Officialspeak

In the past 20 years, no such case of spurious liquor was witnessed in Jalandhar district. To ensure that people here don’t suffer any tragedy like this in future, we have been rigorously checking the areas where such illegal activities take place. — Navjot Bharti, Excise Taxation Officer

The Excise and Taxation Department officials spoke about why such malpractices existed the most along the Sutlej. They said the villages were situated far away from residential areas and there was an easy and free availability of water as well. “It becomes difficult for officials to reach there because of the location,” an official said.

Raids were carried out early in the morning in these areas so that the accused could be nabbed easily.

The department officials said although regular checking was being done after the liquor vends opened, for the past four days, we have now intensified our drive after the case of spurious liquor surfaced from the Majha region.

As per the information, 3,96,750 ml of illicit liquor was recovered from Lohian in the past four days along with 91,320 kg of ‘Lahan’ and as many as 13 FIRs were registered.

From Bilga, a total of 1,19,250 ml of illicit liquor and 63,000 kg ‘Lahan’ has been recovered. Three FIRs have been registered in Bilga.

Four FIRs have been registered in Mehatpur and 51,570 ml of illicit liquor has been seized from here.

In Phillaur, a recovery of 55,500 ml of liquor has been made and five FIRs have been registered.

Navjot Bharti, Excise Taxation Officer (ETO) said in the past 20 years, no such case of spurious liquor was witnessed in Jalandhar district. “To ensure that people here don’t suffer any tragedy like this in future too, we have been rigorously checking the areas where such illegal activities take place,” the officer said.

On the directions of Deputy Commissioner, Excise officials under the supervision of Navjot Bharti carried out the operation to nab the accuse.

1 held with 54 boxes of smuggled liquor

Garhshankar: The Garhshankar police on Tuesday seized 54 cases of smuggled liquor and arrested one person in this connection. Giving information, SHO Iqbal Singh said a police party led by Beenewal police post in-charge SI Satwinder Singh conducted a raid at the house of Vikas, alias Vicky, a resident of Beenewal village and seized 54 cases of smuggled liquor of various brands. The police have registered a case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. OC