Big blow to liquor smugglers, 1,001 cases seized at Jugiana

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 6

The Focal Point police struck a big blow to the liquor smuggling racket being run in the city with seizure of 1,001 cases of various brands of whisky (marked for sale in Chandigarh only) from a godown near Jugiana yesterday.

Giving details, ADCP-4 Ajinder Singh said at a news conference that a police party, led by SI Gurmeet Singh, conducted a raid on a tip-off and nabbed Amandeep Singh, a liquor smuggler, at a naka while the accused was going on a Hero Deluxe motor cycle (PB-EK-7197). On the basis of information extracted from him, the police conducted a raid at a godown located near the petrol station in Jugiana and seized 1,001 cases (12,012 bottles) of various brands of liquor smuggled from Chandigarh.

The smuggled liquor recovered from the godown included 661 cases of “999 Fine” whisky, 160 cases of “Royal Special” and 180 cases of “Chandigarh Choice”.

He said two other persons present at the godown, identified as Jagwant Singh of Jugiana and Happy Gujjar of Jamalpur, escaped. A case under sections 61/1/78/14 of the Excise Act has been registered in this regard. Amandeep is being interrogated.

The police were expecting more revelations from the suspects which could lead to unearthing of a massive network of liquor smuggling in the city.

70 cases recovered elsewhere in city

Elsewhere in the city, the police arrested five persons and booked two others under the Excise Act for selling smuggled liquor. A total of 70 cases (840 bottles) of illicit liquor were recovered from their possession.

The Focal Point police nabbed Chamkaur Singh of Kohara and booked his accomplice Mandeep Singh of Machhiwara while he was carrying 30 cases of smuggled liquor in a car from near Ishwar Colony. The police said when the vehicle coming from the Kohara side was signalled to halt at a naka,

Mandeep made good his escape while Chamkaur was arrested with 22 cases of “Naina” whisky and eight of “555” whisky kept in the car. A case under sections 61/78/1/14 of the Excise Act has been registered by the police.

The Sahnewal police nabbed Rahul Kumar for selling smuggled liquor at his residence in New Ram Nagar and seized two cases of “Chandigarh Choice” from his possession.

The Division No. 6 police have arrested Ashok Patel of Labour Colony and booked his accomplice Udesh Kumar under sections 61/1/14 of the Excise Act and seized two cases of “999 Chandigarh Choice” whisky from them.

The Shimlapuri police arrested Surinder Kumar near Dussehra Ground in Shimlapuri while he was carrying 35 bottles of “555 Gold” whisky in a plastic bag. Another liquor smuggler Ajay Kumar, alias Billy, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, Model Town, was nabbed from near Dana Mandi on Gill Road with 12 bottles of “999 Power Star” whisky.

The PAU police recovered 35 cases (420 bottles) of “Royal Secret” whisky from a car at a naka near the T-point on Humbran Road. The car driver fled the spot. A case under sections 61/68/1/14 of the Excise Act has been registered against unknown persons.