Odisha Excise officials attacked during raids on liquor mafia 

An excise team that went to Athagarh in Cuttack to carry out a raid on a liquor mafia’s house had to face the wrath of his family members. 

As per reports, the Excise Department was tipped off that a liquor mafia identified as Rabindra Swain had stocked liquor in his house at Dalua village in Athagarh. Acting on the tip-off, a mobile team of the Cuttack Excise Department and a team of the Athagarh Excise Department led by Excise Superintendent Debasis Patel went to the village to carry out a raid. 

But the raiding party had to face strong opposition from the family members of Swain. The family members even went on to hurl abuses and attack the party. Their vehicle was vandalised and they were detained. 

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On being informed, a team from Khuntuni Police Station reached the spot and rescued the excise team. Athagarh Excise Department lodged a complaint at Khuntuni Police Station.  

Later, the Excise Department arrested Swain. 

Informing about the incident, Debasis Patel said, “A resident of Dalua village, Rabindra Swain alias Buturi was the main accused in a case of vandalising the Excise Department vehicle on July 28. We were tipped off that he had stocked liquor and other apparatus in his house. Today a raid was carried out jointly by a mobile team of Cuttack and a team of Athagarh Excise Department. During the raid, when we seized liquor from his possession, his family members protested. They detained us. Seeing the law and order situation, we contacted the IIC of Khuntuni Police Station. The IIC and his team reached the spot and rescued us. In this regard, we have lodged an FIR against them for hurling abuses and causing obstruction in government duty.”