With 1531 FIRs registered last year, Jalandhardistrict has witnessed 64.99 percent increase in the police cases against thebootleggers and smugglers in 2020. Chairing a district level meeting to reviewthe crackdown against the illicit liquor trade in the district, DeputyCommissioner Ghanshyam Thori directed all the officials to further intensifythe ongoing drive against this menace.
Divulging the details, the deputy commissionersaid that as many as 995 FIRs had been lodged by the police authorities in thedistrict in the year 2019, which has seen an increase of 64.99 percent with atotal of 1531 FIRs lodged in 2020.
The deputy commissioner said that under theoperation Red Rose, as many as 1536 FIRs have been registered under the ExciseAct besides the arrest of a total of 1563 accused so far. He said that thedifferent departments have seized 103832 bottles of liquor and 2716 premisesincluding go-downs, marriage palaces, and rice shellers were checked.
The deputy commissioner during the reviewmeeting directed the Excise and police department departments to take severeaction against any sort of liquor smuggling and bootlegging in thedistrict. He said that any such activity should be dealt with heavy handsand stern action should be taken against the culprits. He said that exemplaryaction should be taken against persons involved in such actions including underthe relevant provisions of the Acts.
Mr Thori said that the special checking shouldbe further organized in the coming days to check liquor smuggling andbootlegging in the district.
The Deputy Commissioner said that concertedefforts need to be made by the joint teams of the Civil and Policeadministration along with the Excise department at the Tehsil and SubDivisional level. He said that the teams should work collectively for ensuringthat the liquor smuggling, bootlegging and illicit distillation of liquor, ifany, in the district was checked efficiently.
The Deputy Commissioner also directed theofficers of the Excise Department to hold regular checking and take feedbackfrom contractors. He said that this would enable sustained and focused effortagainst smugglers/suppliers/distillers.
Prominent among others present on the occasionincluded Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Garg, Additional DeputyCommissioner Jasbir Singh, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagmohan Singhbesides officers of Excise department.