11,500 litres of lahan destroyed

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 9

Surprise raids conducted by the Anti-Smuggling Cell and the Excise Department at villages near Sutlej led to the recovery of 11,500 litres of lahan (raw material for distillation of illicit liquor), which was destroyed by the police.

Yashpal Sharma, in-charge of the cell, said first raid was conducted along with the officials of the Excise Department at Bholewal Jadid village where the distillery was seized.

Besides recovering 6,500 litres of lahan, 55 bottles of illicit liquor, drums, water tanks, pipes and some other stuff require to make illicit liquor was also seized.

The police said it was a kind of ‘mini-illegal distillery’ that was found running with pipes laid underground to drain the waste material generated after distillation of illicit liquor.

Smugglers identified as Sandeep Singh Babbu of Bholewal village and Paramjit Singh Panna managed to give the slip to the police.

Another raid was conducted near Bholewal Jadid village from where 5,000 litres of lahan, drums, pipes, etc, were seized. Charanjit Singh was arrested from the spot while accused Sukhwinder Singh fled the spot. A case has been registered.