Dozens arrested, hundreds of litres of illicit liquor seized
PRAYAGRAJ: A massive crackdown has been launched against liquor mafia and their henchmen in the district after the Aligarh hooch tragedy. Hundreds of litres of liquor has been seized and dozens of manufacturing units have been destroyed in the ongoing drive by the police and excise department in the last few days.
Since May 30, police teams in different areas of the district have arrested 45 persons including three women and seized around 600 litres of illegal liquor. Also, a large quantity of urea and other raw material used in the manufacture of hooch was recovered during raids.
In the crackdown, Shankargarh police arrested eight persons who were running an illegal liquor manufacturing unit in a remote village. At least 125 litres of liquor was recovered from them along with 25 quintal of raw material.
Similar arrests and recoveries were also made in other areas including at Kareli, Dhumanganj, Puramufti, Phaphamau,
Jhunsi and Naini which are close to city limits.
SP, crime, Ashutosh Mishra said besides personnel at police stations, the crime branch is also on an alert over illicit liquor manufacture and supply. An eye is being kept through informers in remote areas and wetlands which are safe havens for bootleggers.
The drive against illegal liquor will gain pace in the district in coming days, he added.
A few months back, illicit liquor had claimed many lives in the trans-Ganga region of Prayagraj and Pratapgarh districts. Strict action was taken against liquor manufacturers and bootleggers and their properties were attached.
A building owned by a liquor mafia was razed by the administration in a bid to end his influence and network.
However, during the second wave of Covid-19, during which the focus of the police was on implementation of corona curfew, bootleggers and illegal liquor mafia had a field day. As licensed liquor shops were also closed for many days during the Corona curfew, the demand for illicit liquor increased in the region especially in rural areas.