POLICE launched a major crackdown on illegal liquor manufacturing and sale across the district on Wednesday, arresting 22 persons and seizing 235 litres of illicit country liquor, 48 pouches of country liquor and equipment used for brewing, including three furnaces and three gas cylinders. The action was carried out on the directions of Superintendent of Police Sampat Upadhyay, who had instructed officers to identify persons involved in illegal liquor and narcotics trade and conduct raids at manufacturing sites. Under the supervision of senior officers, police teams from Ghamapur, Khamaria, Ranjhi, Omti, Bargi and Panagar conducted simultaneous raids. In Ghamapur, police arrested Mehar Kuchbandhiya and Gopal Dharkar and seized 75 litres of illicit liquor, two furnaces and a gas cylinder. Three other suspects allegedly fled the spot.

 

In another raid in the same area, Suraj Swami, Vicky Kori and Frank Ekli were arrested with 60 litres of illicit liquor, a furnace and two gas cylinders. Nearly 2,000 litres of fermented material was destroyed at the two sites. Khamaria police conducted raids in Rithauri village and arrested Mahendra Patel, Jaggo Bai Banjara, Rekha Banjara and Lalita Banjara, seizing 20 litres of illicit liquor and destroying around 70 litres of lahan. Ranjhi police arrested Rahul Babu Sonkar and Prem Shankar Sonkar with 11 litres of illicit liquor and destroyed approximately 2,500 litres of mahuajaggery lahan stored in tanks behind their houses. Omti police arrested Rajesh Sonkar, Raja Singh Barkade and Rafiq Shah, recovering illicit liquor from them while Bargi police arrested five persons, recovering 23 litres of illicit liquor and 16 pouches of country liquor and Panagar police arrested three persons with 21 litres of illicit liquor. Cases were registered separately under relevant provisions of the Excise Act, and further investigation is underway.