Despite raids, no let-up in illicit liquor trade in Muktsar village

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 14

The seizure of spurious liquor from Kattianwali village in the Lambi Assembly segment here continues unabated.

A number of raids have been conducted in the village, with many cases having been registered against the accused under the Excise Act for allegedly preparing spurious liquor in the past.

In the past week, three persons were arrested from the village and over 230 litres of liquor was seized from them. As per the police records, on August 11, a man was arrested for allegedly carrying 125 litres of hooch; on August 7, another arrest was made and 100 litres of liquor was seized; and on August 6, a man was nabbed for allegedly carrying nine bottles of illicit liquor.

A senior police officer said thick vegetation along a canal was becoming a safe haven for people involved in the illegal activity. “We can’t even clean the dense wild growth as it is spread in a vast area, and requires huge funds. Some people are taking advantage of this and preparing hooch here,” said a police officer.

Meanwhile, residents of some neighbouring villages said those involved in the illegal activity had a strong network, and they managed to escape from the site before the team of police reached there.

Liquor contractors in the village have time and again informed the authorities concerned that they were suffering losses due to the sale of spurious liquor in the area.

On June 1, the police had seized 400 litres of spurious liquor from the village. Earlier, on May 24, nearly 350 litres of spurious liquor was destroyed, and on May 20, nearly 30,000 litres was destroyed.