‘Op Red Rose’: 1,432-ltr illicit liquor recovered in 10 days

Ajay Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 11

Following the unfortunate Tarn Taran hooch tragedy that claimed the lives of around 113 persons, the Excise Department along with the rural and city police have swung into action.

698.49-ltr country-made liquor also seized

As per the figures received from the City Police Commissionerate and the rural police, over 1,432.25 litres of illicit liquor, 698.49 litres of country-made liquor and 10,640 kg of lahan have been recovered by the police in just 10 days. Most of the recoveries were evidently made by the rural police. While the city police seized 14.25 litres of spurious liquor and 613.74 litres of country-made liquor, the rural police have seized 1432.25 litres of illicit liquor, 84.750 of country-made liquor and 10,640 kg of lahan.

As per the figures received from the City Police Commissionerate and the rural police, over 1,432.25 litres of illicit liquor, 698.49 litres of country-made liquor and 10,640 kg of lahan have been recovered by the police in just 10 days. Most of the recoveries were evidently made by the rural police. While the city police seized 14.25 litres of spurious liquor and 613.74 litres of country-made liquor, the rural police have seized 1432.25 litres of illicit liquor, 84.750 of country-made liquor and 10,640 kg of lahan.

In addition, the rural police arrested 91 persons, including 82 men and 9 men in 103 cases between August 1 and 10. Likewise, the city police arrested 62 persons in 59 cases.

Pawanjit Singh, Assistant Commissioner, Excise Department, Jalandhar, said, “After conducting several raids, major recoveries were made from Phillaur, Lohian, Bhilga, Shahkot, Mehatpur and other rural areas.

Raids were carried out early in the morning in these areas so that the accused could also be nabbed easily. The easy and free availability of water along the Sutlej is apparently the prime reason behind the storage of lahan in village areas which are far away from residential areas.”

Likewise, Navjot Bharti, Excise Taxation Officer (ETO), said, “Officials of the department, accompanied by the police, have already been monitoring the sale and manufacturing of spurious liquor for the past three months under “Operation Red Rose” and after the hooch tragedy, they have intensified their drive and have done huge recoveries in just 10 days.”

As per information received from SP (Hqrs) Ravi Kumar, 466.500 litres of illicit liquor, 18.750 of country-made liquor, 32.250 litres of English wine and 3,000 kg of lahan were recovered from Phillaur subdivision, including Phillaur, Goraya and Bilga.

From Nakodar subdivision, a total of 96.750 litres of illicit liquor, 9 litres of country-made liquor and 299 kg of lahan has been recovered. Thirteen FIRs have been registered in Nakodar.

Maximum recoveries were done in Shahkot division, including 785 litres of illicit liquor and 7,350 kg of lahan. Thirtyfive cases were registered here with the arrest of 30 persons. The other recoveries were made from Kartarpur and Adampur subdivision.

A senior official of the city police commissionerate said the manufacturing and sale of spurious liquor were mostly restricted to rural areas only. However, the drive to curb the banned liquor continued in city areas as well.