Assam Government on Friday destroyed over 6 lakh bottles of illegal liquor worth over Rs 168 crore.
Assam Excise Minister, Parimal Shuklabaidya cruched the six lakh bottles and canes of Indian made Foreign liquor (IMFl) and beer under a road roller at Gorchuk area of Assam’s Capital town Guwahati on Friday.
A joint team of excise sleuths and Assam police had seized the consignment of liquors which was being taken illegally to Guwahati and seized those. A total of 13 people have also been arrested for their involvement in the crime and were charge sheeted.
“We have got a court order today to destroy the illegal liquors. We have crushed over six lakh bottles today to send a strong message to the people involved in smuggling of liquors,” said the Excise minister while adding that the department is committed to fight against the illegal smuggling and other similar crimes.
It may be mentioned here that Shuklabaidya after assuming charge as excise minister in 2016 took up several steps to stop the leakage in the department almost doubled the excise revenue generation in the state.
Assam has about 1,448 licensed wine shops selling foreign liquor across the state and the average daily sale is approximately 39,085 liters.