On the directions of the Government right from all district excise Superintendents to Police superintendents to launch an all-out war against illicit liquor brewing, Palamu police in association with the excise department officials have raided over 60 illicit liquor manufacturing units and destroyed them. More than 90 arrests and equal number of FIRs have also been lodged.
Palamu SP Indrajeet Mahatha said, “Police are on the hot chase of illicit liquor manufacturers since this January and so far the number of arrests has gone up to 90 and is counting. Smashing of illicit liquor units is going up. Police are also telling people to shun this illegal trade.”
However, Mahatha sounded caution saying smashing any illicit brew unit is no care free drive by police if naxals lurking is there. It must be mentioned here that the cultivation and brewing has taken a heavy toll on the overall health condition of the local people. It has wrongly impacted the local economy. It has also raised the finance of Maoists,ultimately leading to the finances of a number of Maoist groups. He said, “Cops take all precautions if such illegal brew units are any den of the naxals.”
Asked if illegal brewing units are in those areas which are notorious for poppy cultivation, the SP said, “Poppy cultivating areas have no illicit brew units. Perhaps the people here do not want both cultivation and brewing at one place.”
Again asked if illicit brew manufacturing units are in the areas where large number of mahua trees are grown, Mahatha said, “We just want smashing of such units. Once it is smashed, we will take further steps. We did not count if mahua trees are there in abundance or not. It is a strong point. We will now ascertain this linkage of illicit brew centres to abundance of mahua trees.”
like poppy cultivation, illicit liquor brewing is done near natural water resources. While confirming this, the SP said these illegal brew units are definitely to any up or down water stream.
About land on which it operates, the SP said it is at times of forest land too.
Palamu Excise Superintendent S Srivastava said mahua fruits come here from Orissa. This revelation of excise superintendent has bewildered Palamu police as this district too is famous for mahua picking by the poor here.