98 held for illegal trade in Mansa

Bathinda/Mansa, August 9

Tightening the noose around illicit liquor and drug smugglers, the Mansa police have registered 101 FIRs and arrested 98 persons after recovering a huge quantity of drugs, lahan and illicit liquor.

Mansa SSP Surendra Lamba said raids were being conducted to make Punjab a drug-free state. He said since August 1, the police had seized 2,230 narcotic pills, 30 narcotic vials, 12-gm smack, 30-kg poppy husk, 5,325-litre lahan, 180-litre illicit liquor, 1,110-litre licit liquor and 18-litre Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL).

Meanwhile, the Bathinda police have registered 66 cases under the Excise Act from July 31 to August 6, and arrested 46 persons. The police have seized 467.69-litre illicit liquor, 165.37-litre illicit liquor from other states, 60.85-quintal lahan, 0.570-litre IMFL and four working units. SSP Bhupinderjit Singh Virk said, “We will rope in social organisations and NGOs. They will identify persons involved in the trade. They will be given counseling.” — TNS