Shimla: With elections to the state assembly having been announced, a vigilant state excise department on Monday seized 1,88,000 litres of illicit liquor in Kangra district.
State Taxes and Excise Commissioner Yunus informed that in the ongoing action against illegal liquor sellers, the State Taxes and Excise Department have seized 1,88,000 liters of raw liquor and 50 liters of Lahan from Gagwal and Chak Terian villages yesterday.
He said that the raid was conducted in the border areas under the leadership of Excise Revenue District Nurpur in-charge Tikkam Thakur. He said that a case has been registered under Section-39 of the Himachal Excise Act and the Lahan, tarpaulin and other materials used were videographed following the legal process.
He said that under the Excise Act, raw liquor was destroyed on the spot and drums, cans etc. were taken over by the police. 50 liters of Lahan has been seized by the department and an FIR has been registered in this regard. This inspection was conducted with the combined effort of Excise Department Punjab, Himachal Police and Punjab Police.
In another case, a team formed by district in-charge Himanshu Panwar in Khara forest of Paonta Sahib tehsil in district Sirmaur went deep into five km forest in Khara of Paonta Sahib and destroyed illicit liquor distilleries. Under the Excise Act, the officials destroyed 22 thousand liters of liquor filled in drums, tire tubes, and plastic gallons of raw liquor prepared on the spot.
State Taxes and Excise Commissioner Yunus informed that in view of the elections, no illegal liquor business would be allowed to flourish in the state. The department has constituted a task force for checking the manufacturing and supply of illicit liquor. These teams would conduct surprise inspections under the Excise Act. One such raid was carried out by the teams in different parts of the state yesterday, in which a large quantity of raw liquor was taken into possession and was destroyed as per rules.
Excise Commissioner Yunus informed that in view of the elections, the department is adopting the policy of zero tolerance towards illicit liquor in the state.
