The Punjab Excise Department recovered a huge amount of illicit liquor and other items used in manufacturing liquor during an extensive field checking an official on Friday. The field checking, conducted over two days, aimed at curbing the illicit distillation of liquor in the region
The checking was conducted in areas along the bank of River Beas in Dasuya, Hoshiarpur district. During checking several illegal stills (Bhathis), 17,000 kg of Lahan, 320 litres of illicit liquor, one boat, four iron drums, eight 25-litre plastic cans and four vessels were recovered, officials said.
A spokesperson of the Excise Department on Friday said, “Teams of Excise Enforcement from Head Office, Excise officers of Hoshiarpur Range and Excise Police personnel were deputed to conduct the checking of illicit distillation in the area along the bank of river Beas in Dasuya, as per directions of Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema. A dog squad- specially trained to detect Lahan- was also put into service during this search operation.” “These search operations covered an area of about 7 km on foot as well as using boats along the river bank in a well-coordinated manner and the entire area of Terkiana, Kethana, Badaiyan, Dhanoa, Saidpur and Bhikhowal villages of Dasuya was extensively mapped and searched, “ he said further. “During the searches, it was discovered that the bootleggers had designed some camouflaged modus operandi to carry out the illicit distillation of Lahan by digging deep pits, which were not easy to detect visually. The Dog Squad having three dogs one Labrador and two Belgian malinois dogs displayed extraordinary training skills by sniffing and detecting stills (Bhattis) and pit holes where illicit liquor (Lahan) was being distilled,” he added.
Meanwhile, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that the officials of the Excise Department were carrying out extensive field checkings in pursuance to curb the menace of illicit liquor. He announced that the department launched a helpline number to receive complaints regarding excise-related crimes and said strict action will be taken against those involved in the illegal liquor trade.
