Patna, April 4 Following the recent hooch tragedy in East Champaran, the administration in Vaishali district of Bihar has launched a major crackdown on the illegal liquor trade, delivering a significant blow to the liquor mafia.
Acting on the directives of Vaishali SP Vikram Sihag, police carried out a large-scale raid in the Diara region, where illicit country liquor was being manufactured.
During the operation on Saturday, authorities destroyed a massive quantity of country liquor along with the kilns used for its production.
As part of Bihar’s ongoing drive to strictly enforce prohibition laws, the action was initiated after the Mahnar Police Station received specific intelligence inputs about large-scale illegal brewing activities in the area.
A special police team was subsequently constituted under the SP’s supervision to conduct the raid.
Upon reaching the site, the police team was taken aback to find multiple liquor kilns in operation.
Acting swiftly, they demolished all illegal setups and destroyed nearly 1,500 litres of country liquor on the spot.
Equipment used in the manufacturing process was also completely dismantled.
According to officials, members of the liquor mafia managed to flee the scene upon noticing police vehicles approaching.
Efforts are currently underway to identify and apprehend the absconding accused, with continuous raids being conducted in the region.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Mahnar confirmed that the operation was based on confidential intelligence.
He stated that upon verification of illegal liquor production, immediate action was taken to dismantle the kilns and destroy the contraband.
Further action, he added, will continue as part of the ongoing campaign.
The crackdown comes in the wake of a tragic hooch incident in East Champaran, where six people lost their lives, and more than 15 others were left critically ill after allegedly consuming spurious liquor.
According to an official, the victims had consumed the liquor on April 1, following which their health began to deteriorate rapidly on April 2, leading to multiple fatalities and hospitalisations.
The incident has intensified the administration’s resolve to act decisively against the illegal liquor trade across the region.
--IANS
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