Country liquor worth Rs 80 lakh seized in Muktsar, Fazilka border areas

Ludhiana: In a major success to the state taxation department, liquor worth Rs 80 lakh was seized in the border areas of Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka on Thursday. Officials of Ferozepur division who led the raid destroyed the liquor and equipment used for manufacturing it. In another case, officials seized a truck used for smuggling Rs 9 lakh worth liquor into the state from Haryana.

The truck driver has been arrested and booked under relevant sections of law.

Deputy excise and taxation commissioner, Ferozepur division, H P S Ghotra said, “A joint raid was conducted by our Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka excise staff in Kattianwaali and Chanan Khera villages in the morning and a huge recovery of 73,000 litre laahan (country-made liquor), which is valued around Rs 80 lakh approximately, was made. We also seized four working stills, 17 drums, 82 tarpals, all of which was destroyed. This is our warning to the cartels enageged in manufacturing and supply of illicit liquor that they either mend their ways and end this illegal practice or we will hit them hard and used all measures in our power to put an end to such businesses.”

“We are being ably supported by the police department, as these kind of actions cannot be carried out without them, given the fact that sometimes our own officers face life-threatening situations and are attacked. In the recent changes in the department, an IG level police officer has been posted in state excise and taxation department to lead and coordinate with the force already deployed with the department and in coming days we will bust more such cases/gangs,” Ghotra added.