Liquor smugglers attack licensees’ team

In Ludhiana, a private team of licensees was attacked by miscreants late on Wednesday night when it was cracking the whip on liquor smugglers. The team members got information that some people had been smuggling illicit liquor in the Janak Puri area. They were roaming in the market to keep an eye on the liquor smugglers.

Later, the liquor smugglers surrounded the team members and beat them up. There were about 20 to 25 persons involved in the assault. The team members escaped from the spot to save their lives. Following a complaint made through officials of the Excise Department, an FIR has been lodged by the police.

About three persons are reported to be injured in the attack. Two of them, members of the team, have been admitted to the CMCH. Medical check-up of a policeman, who was among the injured, was done at the Civil Hospital. The uniform of the police official was also torn by the attackers.

The police official, Sukhdev Singh, said he had gone to raid the Janakpuri area with the private team of the licensees. Some people were suspected of smuggling liquor. When he stopped the vehicle for checking and started questioning some suspicious youths, about 20 to 25 youngsters attacked the raiding team. The attackers abused and attacked them with sharp objects.

Sukhdev said the miscreants slapped him and tore his uniform. Somehow, they escaped and saved their lives. Two youths, Sunny and Sufiyan, who were part of the raiding team, were injured.

Meanwhile, Shivani Gupta, AC (Excise), Ludhiana, said no excise inspector or official was involved in the raid as it was conducted by a private team of licensees.

"We had complained to the police for registering an FIR against the bootleggers as a policeman was also attacked by them,” she said.