4 held for sheltering liquor tragedy accused

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, August 13

Even as one of the prime accused of the spurious liquor tragedy in Tarn Taran — Rashpal Singh of Dhotian village — is still out of reach of the Punjab Police, four persons, including two Chandigarh-based women, have been held for allegedly sheltering him.

Those arrested have been identified as Pinki and her daughter Shalu of Chandigarh, Jaskaran Singh of Dhotian village and Gurdev Singh of Jamarai village.

Two cases under Sections 212 and 216 of the IPC were registered against them. They were released on bail later. Rashpal Singh and his brother Gurpal Singh were among the kingpins of the illicit liquor trade in Tarn Taran. They used to procure extra neutral alcohol (ENA), pilfered from tankers being supplied to distilleries for further processing to make wine, and later supplied it to bootleggers in Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Batala for preparing illicit liquor.

While Gurpal was arrested by the Phillaur police for possessing ENA earlier this year, Rashpal went underground after the tragedy. They had over 25 cases of the Excise Act registered against the duo. According to the police, their father Buta Singh was also involved in the illegal trade and was booked in many similar cases. Both belonged to a working class community with no family property. However, the police officials now claim that the accused had amassed huge properties in different parts of Punjab and Chandigarh.