Punjab: Excise teams destroy 2.8 lakh kg of 'lahan' in Ludhiana's Bet area
Chandigarh, May 11: Excise teams on Tuesday morning carried out a search operation in Bet area of Ludhiana district and destroyed 2.8 lakh kg of 'lahan' and 100 litre of illicit liquor on the spot.
The orders with regard to the search operation in Ludhiana's Bet area were given by Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Following this, Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam constituted four teams to launch the search operation in the wee hours.
The four teams were constituted under Patiala Zone Excise Deputy Commissioner Shalin Walia by Ludhiana Range Excise Assistant Commissioner Shivani Gupta. The water used for the purpose was found full of chemical wastes and toxins. The Jalandhar district excise staff was deployed at the other end of the river.
Also Read | Supreme Court puts sedition law on hold, those in jail can apply for relief
An official spokesperson said the search was conducted in areas/villages on the banks of the Sutlej, namely Talwani Nabad, Gorsia near Barundi, Bholewal Jadid, Rajapur, Khera Bet, Mazzara Kalan, Hakam Rai Bet, Sherewal, Baghian and Bahadur Ke village. The search operation was carried out in the area spanning about 40 km, he added.
As many as 60 members of search teams led by Ludhiana excise officers, comprising excise inspectors and excise police staff, carried out the search. The water used for the purpose was found full of chemical wastes and toxins that came from the sewage of various industrial units of Ludhiana.
Seeing the team, the brewers fled leaving behind 30 kilns, 6 quintals of wood, 15 iron drums, two aluminum utensils, nine plastic pipes and 12 bags of jaggery.
The spokesperson said this campaign would help cracking down on illicit brewers in the Mand areas and along the river banks of Punjab.
Also Read | Pro-Khalistan flags: Himachal Police arrest Punjab resident
Illegal brewing of liquor in riverine or border areas has become a major challenge, adversely affecting the sale of liquor in the state and causing huge loss to the state exchequer.
-PTC News
