71 boxes of illicit liquor seized

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 12

Peddlers of illicit liquor have now started using tractor-trolleys to carry illicit liquor from Haryana to Punjab.

The CIA-2 wing of the Bathinda police today seized illicit liquor from tractor trolleys for the fourth time and this time, the police seized 71 boxes of illicit liquor, which were covered by a water-proof tarpaulin (plastic sheet).

Tarjinder Singh, in charge of CIA-2 of Bathinda police, said acting on a tip-off, the police team, led by ASI Harinder Singh, set up a nakabandi near the Tiyona-Singpura road and stopped a tractor-trolley (covered by tarpaulin), the team when checked found 71 boxes of illicit liquor.

The police took tractor driver Kaku Singh, a resident of Gelewala village in Talwandi Sabo sudivision, in their custody. Tarjinder Singh said Gelewal village was situated just near the Haryana border. Accused Kaku Singh started peddling a few months ago. He purchased per box of illicit liquor at the rate of 700 and sold here for Rs 1,000-1,200 near surrounding villages.

The accused was booked under sections of the Excise Act in the Talwandi Sabo police station. Before this, the CIA-2 wing had seized close to 610 boxes of illicit liquor from three tractor-trolleys. Tarjinder Singh said the CIA-2 wing also arrested four more persons with 30 boxes of illicit liquor.

A police team, led by sub-inspector Jagroop Singh, seized 22 boxes of illicit liquor from a City Honda car (PB-02-AD-0495) from Kotbakhtu village. The accused were identified as Darshan Singh and Jagdeep Singh, residents of Kotbakhtu village.

In another case, the CIA-2 wing seized eight boxes of illicit liquor from Tata Sumo (PB-04-H-9780) on the Rampura road and arrested Harcharan Singh, a resident of Dhadhe village, and Seera Singh, a resident of Dikh village. On the other hand, the Rama police recovered 400 litres of lahan from Bangi Nihal Singh Wala village and arrested Ghulla Singh, a resident of the same village, while Attar Singh and Surjeet Kaur are absconding and both were booked in the same case.

The Rampura Sadar police arrested Gurjeet Singh, a resident of Balliaanwali, with 12 bottles of illicit liquor from Gill Kalan village. The Bathinda Sadar police arrested Malkeet Singh, a resident of Beer Talab village, with 5 litres of illicit liquor from the Narruana road T-point.