Raids carried out in Cachar, 22 arrested

SILCHAR: Following the hooch tragedy which has claimed more than 154 lives so far, the Cachar district administration has launched a massive crackdown on illegal liquor trade. The state excise department is carrying out raids in all suspected localities, with 22 persons arrested and 31 cases registered do far.

Cachar superintendent at the excise department, Sunil Sinha, said they have conducted eight raids in suspected areas since February 22. Following orders issued by the deputy commissioner, raids have been carried out at Rampur in Kathal Tea Estate, Meherpur, Tapaban Nagar, Chengkhuri, Janata Bazar, Lailapur, Sadagram, Shantipur areas of Dholai constituency, Lalang Tea Estate, Jaroiltala in Borkhola constituency.

The excise official said that 22 persons have been arrested and 31 cases registered so far. He added that 100 litres of illicit distilled liquor have been seized and sizeable fermented quantity of wash destroyed in some places. Moreover, seven distilling apparatuses have been recovered and 1,764 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor recovered so far.

Efforts have also been stepped up in Hailakandi where police have arrested two persons and destroyed 3,000 litres of illicit distilled liquor in raids conducted recently.