3 days, 50 cases: Ferozepur bootleggers feel heat

Blurb: In contrast, only 12 cases from March 23 till last week

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, May 23

In an unprecedented crackdown on illicit brewing, trade and inter-state smuggling of country-made liquor, over 50 cases have been registered in the past three days alone under “Operation Red Rose”, conducted jointly by the Punjab Police and Excise and Taxation Department, in the border district.

This is in stark contrast to 12 cases registered from March 23 — the day lockdown was imposed in the state — till last week.

As per information, 3.5 lakh litre ‘lahan’ (illicitly brewed liquor) has been seized in the past few days. While 1.3 lakh litre liquor was dumped into the Sutlej along the India-Pakistan border on Thursday, 3,000 litre distilled liquor was seized the same day. Another 1.51 lakh litre ‘lahan’ was seized and 36 persons, including three women, arrested. Further, 2,000 bottles of PML (distilled liquor) sold illegally were seized.

HPS Ganotra, Divisional Excise and Taxation Officer, said huge recoveries had also been made in Muktsar, Fazilka and Moga. He said 75,000 litre lahan was seized from Channan Khera Kattianwali Canal in Fazilka and Muktsar and 6,000 litre from Moga today.

SSP Bhupinder Singh said most of the illicit liquor was being brewed in hamlets along the Sutlej and that the police had seized a truck carrying 1,270 boxes of illicit liquor near Mudki a few days ago.

Senior excise official said the government was alarmed at the mounting losses to the state exchequer, following which the operation was planned. Even liquor contractors had expressed resentment over illegal sale in the state, he said.

Sources claimed certain ministers and MLAs owing allegiance to the ruling party, who were in the liquor business or were silent partners, had mounted pressure on the state government to act against illegal sale and brewing of liquor.

Bq

Sutlej hamlets hotbed

“Most of the illicit liquor is being brewed in hamlets along the Sutlej”

— Bhupinder Singh, Ferozepur SSP