Illegal liquor trading is going unabated despite raids by the Excise and police department here. It is also alleged that some addicts without getting their regular liquor due to the lockdown are consuming ayurvedic medicine and cough syrups with high alcohol content.

According reports , ayurvedic medicine , Mrita Sanjivani Sura, has come handy for the addicts in absence of their regular liquor. It is alleged that some of medicine stores dealing in ayurvedic medicines are selling Sanjivani Sura without any fear and restrictions.

It is alleged that  these  stores are selling them at higher prices while turning away the genuine patients stating  nonavailability of stocks.

According to an ayurvedic doctor Santanu Das, the Sanjivani Sura is prescribed to the some  patients  depending  on their requirements for various ailments. Since it contains alcohol, a patient is prescribed doses according to weight and age etc.  It shouldn’t be misused and consumed by others without prescription. The drugs inspector should enforce guidelines on its sell and consumption, he said.

Similarly, there are reports  that the consumption of cough syrups too has gone high as it  has proved another substitute to regular liquor.

Although a complete ban on sale of liquor  has been imposed since lockdown, yet in the district illegal  trading is flourishing despite raids.

The police and Excise officials have seized illicit and spurious liquors from several  places across the district following raids.

The Excise department informed that  during lockdown liquors or its ingredients worth Rs 10 lakh were seized and 10 bootleggers arrested.